Watch: Rescued turtle returns home to Richards Bay
A satellite tracker has shown Finley, a rehabilitated loggerhead turtle, completing a remarkable full-circle journey along the KZN coast.
Loggerhead turtle Finley has completed an extraordinary full-circle journey, returning to the waters off Richards Bay where she was rescued in a critical condition less than a year ago, reports The Witness.
The South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR), which has been tracking Finley since her release last month, said her latest satellite transmission on Monday (August 3) placed her about 10km west of the Richards Bay harbour.
The location is not far from where the resilient turtle was found in December 2025 before spending more than seven months recovering at the Sea Turtle Hospital at uShaka Sea World, Durban.
SAAMBR described Finley’s return to the area as a remarkable milestone in her rehabilitation journey.
“Finley seems to have a soft spot for Richards Bay,” the organisation said.
Her latest movements follow an earlier journey north along KZN’s coastline, where she travelled in the warm Agulhas Current before circling back towards the harbour.
Finley was one of the Sea Turtle Hospital’s most challenging rehabilitation cases.
SAAMBR previously said she had arrived with an exceptionally low blood count
“[She] needed a carefully managed blood transfusion before she slowly began to recover,” SAAMBR had said.
Despite losing part of one of her front flippers before she was rescued, Finley has adapted well to life back in the ocean.
“She is also showing us, once again, just how resilient sea turtles can be, doing well with only part of a front flipper, as many turtles are able to adapt remarkably after injury.”
However, SAAMBR said Finley’s story also highlights the ongoing threats facing marine turtles.
It said that Finley’s story is a reminder that “even the strongest turtles remain vulnerable to human-made threats, especially plastic pollution, fishing-related impacts and coastal debris.”
The organisation thanked On Safari Africa for funding Finley’s satellite tracker, as well as the Richards Bay community and the Arboretum Veterinary Clinic for helping give the turtle a second chance.
SAAMBR continues to monitor Finley’s movements as she explores South Africa’s east coast, providing valuable insight into the behaviour of rehabilitated sea turtles after they are returned to the wild.
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