MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The sea turtle hatching season has started on the beaches of KZN and many loggerhead and leatherback hatchlings will be carried offshore in ocean currents. 

Every year little hatchlings are found washed up on our local beaches due to inclement weather conditions and strong currents.

What to do when turtle hatchlings are found:

• Call the Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team (S.M.A.R.T.) on 072 227 4715. It will organise that the hatchlings are collected and taken to either the Dias Museum or veterinarian Dr Frans de Graaff's Hartenbos Animal Hospital. The hospital is equipped to care for them until they are sent to either Bayworld in Port Elizabeth or Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town.

• Place a wet towel or clean cloth in a small container and place the hatchling on it. Please DO NOT place the turtle in a container with water or back into the ocean.

• Keep it in a quiet space at room temperature and do not try to feed or handle it.

All sea turtles are protected and special permits or permission is required to have them in your possession. 

S.M.A.R.T. works in collaboration with Bayworld and Two Oceans in this regard.

Turtle Road Trip
A Turtle Road Trip has been organised by the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town and will stop in Mossel Bay on Sunday, 4 March at the Granary in the Dias Museum Complex at 12:00. 

All sea turtles are protected and special permits or permission is required to have them in your  possession.

The Road Trip is covering coastal towns and villages from Muizenberg to Plettenberg Bay to inform communities on what to do when stranded turtles are found on beaches.

Everybody is welcome to attend the event and by doing so, become actively involved in helping these special creatures that are severely harmed by plastic pollution.

ARTICLE: TERSIA MARAIS, MOSSEL BAY ADVERTISER CORRESPONDENT

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