Turtles

The eggs incubate for up to 65 days, and all hatch at the same time. For three to four days, the hatchlings wait for their shells to harden, after which they emerge from the sand and head to the shore. They navigate using a light source such as the horizon or the moon while dodging the threat of predation by crabs or other predators. Once in the water, the hatchlings swim out into the warm Agulhas Current, where they begin a multi-day swimming frenzy during which they swim continuously to get as far from shore as possible. During this time, they survive on the energy from their egg yolk. Approximately one in 1000 will survive to maturity.

An entire decade could pass between the time hatchlings take their first swim until they return to coastal waters to forage as juveniles. These years are known as "the lost years" due to the sea turtles' whereabouts being largely unknown. During this time, the hatchlings are transported by strong currents to open-ocean habitats, where they live in flotsam, such as brown algae mats, and eat omnivorously. Unfortunately, they often confuse microplastics for food during this time. 

After this oceanic period, juvenile turtles move into coastal feeding areas to finish growing. These feeding grounds offer abundant food but also host more predators. Therefore, the turtles wait to enter these areas until they reach the juvenile stage, when their bodies are larger and less of an easy target for predators. Juveniles will roam coastal waters for as long as a few decades. When they have reached maturity and have acquired sufficient resources, the now adult turtles migrate to the beaches where they hatched to contribute to their species.

All sea turtles have ribs that are modified to form bone or cartilage shells. The turtle shell has a top (carapace) and a bottom (plastron), which join together along each side of the body to create a rigid skeletal "box". They cannot exit their shells like some other reptiles. Their wide flippers are adapted for swimming, holding onto prey, mating, and nesting behaviours. Sea turtles are exquisitely adapted to life in the oceans. They can best hear low notes and are sensitive to vibrations in the water and on land. They are air-breathing animals and need to hold their breath for long periods. Thus, turtles can fully inflate their lungs and draw off as much oxygen as possible. When sleeping or hibernating on the sea floor, they have wonderful adaptations for surviving for hours underwater.

Sea turtles are powerful swimmers, only appearing on coastal beaches to lay eggs and spending the rest of their time in the ocean. Turtles migrate between feeding and breeding areas, often travelling incredibly long distances between each. Leatherback turtles travel an average of 5 900km each way. Turtles spend most of their time in water and can rest underwater for up to five hours at a time before popping to the surface to breathe. Their bodies are adapted for swimming, with streamlined shells, forelimbs modified as flippers and hind feet as large, webbed rudders. Sea turtles have a range of dietary preferences, although most species are omnivorous as hatchlings. Carnivorous turtles feed on crabs, shellfish, and jellyfish, while omnivorous and herbivorous turtles eat seaweed, sponges, sea cucumbers, and other plants.

Unfortunately, global sea turtle populations are vulnerable to human-induced threats. Sea turtles are harvested for both human consumption and the trade of their parts, such as “tortoise-shell” products from the hawksbill turtle. The plastic crisis also poses huge threats to turtles, which often mistake floating plastic for jellyfish and can choke on these materials. Lost or discarded fishing gear (or ghost gear) is another danger: It can entangle turtles and prevent them from swimming or feeding. We can make a difference by avoiding single-use plastics, cutting loops in circular products, participating in beach clean-ups, and generally caring for our oceans.

One out of 1 000 turtle hatchlings survives to adulthood - these figures are worsening due to increased pollution, climate change, and other human-induced hazards. The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation's Turtle Conservation Centre contributes to the recovery of global sea turtle numbers by rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing stranded turtles. The ultimate goal is for each turtle admitted to the programme to be released - in fact, the Turtle Conservation Centre has an incredible 85% release rate. The data collected from this work contributes to the global knowledge base for turtle research.

Rescuing stranded sea turtles along the Western Cape coastline would not be possible without the dedicated individuals and organisations that form our Turtle Rescue Network. Most stranded turtles are discovered by beachgoers, fishers, and runners. That’s why we created the Turtle Rescue Network: A collective of like-minded people and organisations stretching from Lambert’s Bay to Gqeberha, ensuring that every stranded turtle gets rapid assistance. With over 2 000 members across the Western Cape, the Network can be activated with one simple call to our Turtle Rescue Hotline: 083 300 1663. From there, we coordinate collection, transport, and stabilisation, safely delivering each rescued turtle to our Turtle Conservation Centre for care and rehabilitation.

In 2024, our Turtle Conservation Centre was inundated with stranded turtle hatchlings that had washed ashore after unseasonal and intense storms hit the Western Cape coastline. Before they knew it, our turtle team had over 600 hatchlings to care for – almost five times more than a typical stranding season. Join our turtle team as they share the inspiring journey of these vulnerable hatchlings, from the moment they were stranded to their triumphant return to the ocean.