Turtles

The nesting season for most turtle species takes place from October to February, coinciding with the presence of warmer oceanic waters. Sea turtles mate at sea, in breeding grounds that are near the beaches from which they emerged as hatchlings. This instinct is called natal homing and occurs in all sea turtle species. Male sea turtles are quite aggressive during mating season and often try to mate with multiple females. After mating, the females make their way to shore, where they haul themselves above the high-tide line to lay their eggs. Using their front flippers, females dig a large hole called a "body pit", and with their back flippers, they dig an "egg chamber" where they deposit up to 120 soft-shelled eggs. They then cover the hole and return to the sea.

Turtle eggs incubate in the sand for around two months. The hatchlings tend to hatch around the same time before working together to dig their way to the surface, a process that can take several days. They usually emerge at night, when the sand is cooler, and head towards the brightest, most open horizon – which, on a natural beach, leads them towards the ocean. Along the way, they must dodge crabs, birds, and other predators. Once in the water, the hatchlings swim out towards the warm Agulhas Current, beginning an intense swimming frenzy that helps them move away from the dangerous nearshore environment. Their remaining egg yolk provides an important energy source during these first days of life. The odds are stacked against them: It is estimated that only around one in 1 000 turtle hatchlings survives to adulthood.

Years can pass between the time hatchlings take their first swim and when they return to coastal waters as larger juveniles. This period is known as the “lost years” because these young turtles spend much of their time in the open ocean, making them particularly difficult to study. During this time, ocean currents carry the young turtles far from their natal beaches, although the turtles grow to actively swim and influence their journeys. They occupy open-ocean habitats, sometimes associating with floating vegetation and other flotsam, where they feed on a variety of small marine organisms. Unfortunately, plastics also accumulate in these environments and can be mistakenly ingested by hatchlings.

After this oceanic period, juvenile turtles often 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 their shells are harder, making them less of an easy target for predators. Juveniles will roam coastal waters for as many 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.

Turtles' shells are part of their skeleton: Their ribs and vertebrae are modified and fused with other bones to form the shell. The upper part is called the carapace and the lower part the plastron, which are joined along the sides of the body. This means turtles cannot leave their shells. Turtles are exquisitely adapted to life in the ocean. Their powerful front flippers propel them through the water and are also used during feeding, mating, and nesting behaviours. They hear best at low frequencies and can detect sounds and vibrations both underwater and on land. As air-breathing reptiles, turtles must regularly surface to breathe, but they have remarkable adaptations that allow them to remain underwater for long periods. When resting or sleeping, their metabolism and heart rate slow, conserving oxygen and allowing them to remain submerged for several hours before surfacing for another breath.

Turtles spend almost their entire lives in the ocean, with adult females coming ashore to lay their eggs. They live in tropical and subtropical waters around the world and use a variety of habitats throughout their lives, from the open ocean to coral reefs, seagrass meadows, rocky reefs, and coastal waters. Many turtles travel incredible distances between feeding and breeding areas, sometimes crossing entire ocean basins. Leatherback turtles are among the greatest travellers, with some migrations covering thousands of kilometres. Different turtle species specialise in different foods and habitats: Green turtles graze on seagrasses and algae, hawksbills forage around reefs for sponges and other invertebrates, and leatherbacks roam the open ocean in search of jellyfish. Loggerheads use their powerful jaws to feed on hard-shelled prey such as crabs and molluscs.

Unfortunately, global turtle populations are vulnerable to human-induced threats. The plastic pollution crisis is arguably the biggest threat to turtles, as many mistake floating plastic for jellyfish or mistakenly ingest microplastics. Turtles are harvested for both human consumption and the trade of their parts, such as “tortoise-shell” products from the hawksbill turtle. 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 found 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.