As we welcome spring’s warm weather and the smell of Heritage Day braais just on the horizon, keep in mind that September is important for another reason in South Africa—the beginning of Green Season where green turtles wash ashore! Here’s what to do if you spot a stranding:
Cape Town, South Africa (03 September 2024) — September is a busy month for South Africans. There’s the joy of spring and all things new, Heritage Month where we celebrate our cultural treasures, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month where cupcakes quite literally change individual worlds, whale season being in full swing and of course the two-month mark until Dezemba, when South Africa comes alive more than ever. But for marine conservationists it also marks ‘green season’—a time to keep an eye out for green turtle strandings along our beaches.
From September, our green turtle friends tend to take a break from the ocean and strand along Africa’s coastlines, as the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation (TOAF) informs.
This year, the TOAF and their network of turtle heroes already had their hands full with strandings as hundreds of hatchlings (baby turtles) taking in a whopping 600 hatchlings as of July largely due to intense weather conditions in the Cape.
While the weather has certainly subsided since the wetter months, green turtles have proven to wash up along our coastlines from this month onward for reasons unknown.
The TOA recorded 17 subadult turtles as of 2022, and 11 last year (including some beloved turtles like Nori Bokkie and Luna who are still in rehabilitation but are almost ready for their release!). Not to mention, Bheni the adventurous turtle whose journey many of us followed is also part of the green turtle family.
Turtle heroes will be on standby for ‘green season’ alerts, but it’s up to the public to ensure that they get the calls in time!
If you find yourself at the beach and notice a stranded green turtle in your midst; make sure to take a few seconds to call the Turtle Rescue Hotline on 083 300 1663.
While many may be tempted to just put the turtle back into the sea, this is a no-go. The turtle could be injured or dehydrated and as such, won’t be able to swim away! Instead, make the call and save a little green turtle’s life by connecting them to the teams who know what to do.
Meanwhile in exciting news for turtle lovers, rescued and released turtles Bheni, Nobomvu and Turbo have all come a long way since their first strides back into the ocean and this is what they have been up to!
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