Tracking our turtles: Cruising the currents with Kai and Nori

Our Turtle Conservation Centre is currently tracking two rehabilitated and released turtles with very different stories. Kai, a juvenile loggerhead turtle, and Nori, a subadult green turtle, are both fitted with satellite tags that allow us to follow along on their journeys as they explore the ocean. 

Through this technology, we are gathering vital data that not only gives us insight into our rehabilitated turtles’ movements but also contributes to the global database for turtle conservation, helping us to better protect their species and the spaces they call home. 

Let’s catch up with Kai and Nori…

Kai, the loggerhead turtle

Kai was released 44 days ago into the De Hoop Marine Protected Area (MPA) after six years of rehabilitation. During his first four days, we saw him meandering slowly along the Western Cape coastline and into the Eastern Cape. He averaged 24km per day and spent a significant amount of time offshore between Kenton-on-Sea and Port Alfred. 

It is wonderful to imagine Kai in such a vibrant and beautiful space! 

On 24 June, he had a significant change of pace when he entered the Agulhas Current. Between 24 and 28 June, Kai averaged an incredible 110km per day! This kind of speed is only possible because he is riding this fast-moving current, which can flow at top speeds of up to 9.2km/h.

So far, Kai has travelled a solid 1 409km since his release 44 days ago. He is currently right in the middle of the Southwest Indian Seamounts MPA, the deepest MPA in South Africa. Much of the protection in this unique MPA is dedicated to the delicate ecosystems of the abyssal plains deep underwater. As he is in such a fast-moving current, it is unlikely that Kai will be here for long before continuing further south. 

Will Kai continue riding the Agulhas Current, will he turn off for a coastal jaunt, or will he move out of the current into the open ocean? We will have to wait and see! 

Nori, the green turtle

Nori, our grand adventurer, was released into the De Hoop Marine Protected Area in November 2025. In the last 215 days, she has travelled an awesome 8 464km!

Continuing her journey through the North Atlantic Ocean, she is currently just 900km southwest of Liberia, 2 000km south of Cape Verde, and 2 200km from Ponta do Seixas, the easternmost point of South America. 

As we discovered a few updates ago, the west coast of Africa supports some of the Atlantic Ocean’s most important turtle foraging grounds. From Mauritania to Guinea-Bissau, turtles congregate in these highly productive waters to feed before continuing their remarkable migrations. The waters of the North Atlantic Ocean are also known for supporting an incredible range of species, from microscopic plankton to migrating whales. As you can see below, Nori is in a warmer surface current and is most likely feasting in these productive waters. 

Projecting her tracks, it looks like Nori is now travelling north within the west-moving North Equatorial Current and the Canary Current. Over the last seven days, she has covered 400km. Not quite the same speed as Kai, but still a remarkable 57km per day. She is definitely making the most of the currents and is swimming smartly. 

Our Turtle Conservation Centre is waiting excitedly to see how Nori’s travels progress and where she ventures to next.