uShaka aims to conserve loggerhead turtles
Everyone can play a small part in conservation efforts by placing litter in the bin and by actively supporting the maintenance of South Africa’s marine protected areas.
THE success of loggerhead turtle conservation is the cause for celebration at uShaka Sea World.
A highlight of the new year is the upgrading of the global conservation status of loggerhead turtles from “endangered” to “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR) based at uShaka Marine World, has played an integral part in a number of conservation projects that support the Southern African populations of these turtles, which lay their eggs on the beaches off northern KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique.
Well-known turtle expert, Dr George Hughes started his PhD research on South East African sea turtles in 1969, when he was based at SAAMBR’s Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI). His work resulted in one of the longest running (and still currently active) conservation projects on the continent; that of protecting the nesting beaches of these turtles along the East Coast of Southern Africa.
Besides ORI’s research activities, SAAMBR’s uShaka Sea World division has an international reputation for successfully rehabilitating turtles that are stranded on KwaZulu-Natal and Cape beaches. In order to increase their populations to sustainable levels, the survival of every turtle is important, and uShaka Sea World strives to rehabilitate as many turtles as possible, while endeavouring to bring the plight of the turtles to the attention of their guests through appropriate educational displays.
Even though their conservation status has improved, The IUCN has made it clear that the survival of the 10 sub-populations of loggerhead turtles will continue to be dependent on intense conservation efforts into the foreseeable future.
“Loggerhead turtles are exposed to many and varied threats, and consequently conservation efforts have to be tailored to address these. SAAMBR is proud of their contribution to the conservation of these iconic marine animals so far, and pledges to continue to play an active role,” said Ann Kunz from Sea World.
She said everyone could play a small part in this conservation effort, by placing litter in the bin, thereby reducing the chance of turtles eating plastic, and by actively supporting the maintenance of South Africa’s marine protected areas, which in turn protect the homes of our incredibly diverse marine life.
