MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A green sea turtle was fortunate enough to be returned to its natural habitat after a remarkable recovery.
On 1 December the Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team (S.M.A.R.T.) received a call about a sea turtle found in the Klein Brak lagoon.
The turtle was taken to Dr Frans de Graaff at the Hartenbos animal hospital for treatment.
Recently Dr De Graaff acquired a specialized water filtration system to be able to rehabilitate sea turtles successfully.
Numerous sea turtles in distress have found their way to the animal hospital but it proved very costly to maintain the water quality and as a result, the turtles had to be moved to either Two Oceans or Bayworld Aquariums for rehabilitation.
The green sea turtle (chelonia mydas), since named Angelo, was the first patient treated in Dr De Graaff's new system.
Angelo was diagnosed with floater syndrome, a very common disease among sea turtles and the biggest cause of death.
It is the result of consuming plastic. Turtles confuse plastic for squid or jellyfish, their main source of protein.
Once swallowed, the plastic causes a gas build up in the stomach and literally start floating on ocean surface.
Since they cannot dive to feed, they die of starvation. This also puts them at risk of colliding with seagoing vessels, causing severe injuries and even death.
Angelo was lucky to have been saved in time. After removing the plastic and following a two month rehabilitation process, he was released at Hartenbos beach recently.
Volunteers of S.M.A.R.T. and members of the public watch in awe as the turtle took its first breaking wave when released a while ago.
Green sea turtles
Green sea turtles have a greenish colour to their skin. The plastron (underside of the shell) is a yellowish colour.
They grow up to 1.5 metres in length and weigh 68–190kg. Green sea turtles are among the largest apart from leatherback turtles.
Adult green sea turtles are herbivorous and prefer sea grasses and algae.
The juveniles are omnivores and eat invertebrates like crabs, sponges and jellyfish.
They reach sexual maturity between 20 and 50 years old and lay clutches of 100 to 200 eggs on the same beaches that they hatched on.
Green sea turtles live 80 to 100 years. They are severely endangered and on the IUCN Red List.
Anjo Malan, who along with her friend Elsa Davids found Angelo, was also present when Dr Frans De Graaff released him.
Having a rehabilitation system along with the expertise of Dr De Graaff on our doorstep can only help the plight of all sea turtles that come ashore along the coastline.
If any sea turtle is found on shore, contact S.M.A.R.T. (072 227 4715).
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