Critically endangered turtle washes up in iSimangaliso

After stranding on a beach within the protected iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a hawksbill turtle endured a five-hour journey by car, ending up in Durban for rest and rehabilitation.

The young turtle, weighing just 4.9kg, washed up in Manzengwenya, in the far northern reaches of the Zululand region on Saturday, before being transported to uShaka Sea World in Durban.

Speaking to the Northern Eyethu on Tuesday, uShaka Sea World quarantine aquarist Kerry Lavender said the turtle was doing very well and they have high hopes for it.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Loggerhead turtle safely removed from Richards Bay beach

Appearing healthy on the outside, and with clean blood work, the hawksbill was positively buoyant, meaning it could not dive.

“An X-ray revealed a solid mass in the turtle’s intestine, which could be undigested food,” said Lavender.

“Medication is being administered to help the guts move, and we are hoping for an update at the end of the week.”

While the turtle had not yet eaten as of Tuesday afternoon, it was showing an interest in food, which is positive.

Also on Saturday, a loggerhead turtle was stranded at Naval Island in Richards Bay.

Miriam Otto collected it and transported it to Arboretum Veterinary Clinic where it was looked after until Sea World picked it up on the return leg of their trip from Manzengwenya.

Sadly, the turtle did not make the trip and was pronounced dead on arrival at uShaka Sea World.

Conservation status

The hawksbill turtle is critically endangered, with a decreasing population.

The species inhabits the tropical and sub-tropical waters of all the major oceans of the world.

Their name is derived from their unique beak-like mouth, which resembles that of a hawk and is perfect for finding food sources in cracks and crevices.

In many parts of the world, hawksbills face the unique threat of being hunted for their beautiful shell, also known as ‘tortoise shell’, which is used by craftspeople to create many types of jewellery and trinkets.

The historical hunting and killing of hawksbills for their shell nearly drove the species to extinction. Today, the Convention on International Trade of Endangered

Species (CITES) forbids the trade of any turtle products on the international market, including hawksbill tortoise shell, but illegal hunting continues to represent a threat to the species in many parts of the world.

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