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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.
South African-established Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Day gets United Nations Endorsement in 2026
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), often referred to as the 'nature reserves of the sea', are ecologically significant areas that protect vulnerable marine ecosystems, habitats and species, while supporting the people who depend on them. Launched in South Africa on 1 August 2021, MPA Day aims to drive awareness of these areas dedicated to ocean – and planetary health – with the 2026 edition garnering support from the United Nations.
Entangled Cape fur seal rescue in Cape Town: What it reveals about ocean health
A juvenile Cape fur seal with a life-threatening entanglement was rescued by the Marine Wildlife Management Programme at the V&A Waterfront. Discover how marine pollution and discarded fishing gear continue to threaten Cape Town's marine wildlife, and how you can help.
Meet the keynote speakers for the IZE Conference 2026
As zoo and aquarium educators from around the world come together at the IZE Conference 2026 to share ideas, celebrate innovation, and strengthen their collective impact, we are honoured to welcome three exceptional keynote speakers: Dr Gcina Mhlophe, Dave Morgan, and Loyiso Dunga.
Creatures & Creators returns: A one-day dive into design, science, and touch
This year's Creatures & Creators workshop looked a little different. Where 2025's edition unfolded over three days, 2026 packed all the wonder, collaboration, and discovery into a single action-packed day on 17 July.
Ghost fishing gear: The silent killer haunting our ocean
When a female loggerhead turtle of nesting age washed ashore in Betty's Bay in February 2025, severely entangled in the ropes of a marker buoy, the damage had already been done. While ghost gear is often described in statistics, its true impact is revealed through the stories of individual animals.
30x30 Countdown: With Four Years to Go, Are We on Track to Protect the Ocean?
As the world prepares to celebrate MPA (Marine Protected Areas) Day on 1 August, attention is once again turning to one of the most ambitious conservation commitments ever made: the Global Goal to protect 30% of the world's land, freshwater, and ocean by 2030.
The Two Oceans Aquarium celebrated MPA Day 2026 with a Rocky Shore Explore
Last weekend, on 1 August 2026, the Two Oceans Aquarium community celebrated the sixth annual Marine Protected Areas Day with a Rocky Shore Explore at Dalebrook Tidal Pool in the Table Mountain Marine Protected Area.
Applications for Marine Sciences, an official school subject for Grades 10–12, are now open
Between August and October, thousands of Grade 9 learners across South Africa choose the subjects they'll take through to Matric. For learners with a curiosity about the natural world, a passion for the ocean, or an interest in solving environmental challenges, Marine Sciences is a unique and exciting choice.
South African-born MPA Day Makes a Global Splash with Record-Breaking 2026 Celebrations
What began as a South African initiative has become one of the world's fastest-growing ocean conservation movements, with 2026 the biggest celebration of MPA Day yet! Held annually on 1 August and now officially endorsed as a United Nations Ocean Decade Activity, this celebration of Marine Protected Areas (nature reserves of the sea) plays a vital role in protecting the ocean – and ultimately the planet.
Ragged-tooth shark trafficking: Blue’s journey back to the wild ocean
In March 2026, a 201kg ragged-tooth shark was walked into the surf at Struisbaai, where she was released. She swam off confidently and strongly, with three Two Oceans Aquarium staff alongside her. Eight years earlier, the same shark had been confined in an illegal containment unit, bound for the Netherlands. That shark was Blue.
Birdmouth wrasse
Birdmouth wrasses are small, elongated fish that display strong sexual dimorphism (males and females look different). Males are vivid blue-green with yellowed fins. Their snouts grow disproportionately long, often with bulbous protrusions. Females are significantly smaller, with comparatively drab colouration. They are yellow-brown with white underparts. Their snouts are also elongated, but more slender than the male’s. Birdmouth wrasses use their elongated snouts, which have small mouths on the end, to prey on small invertebrates in cracks and crevices. They are abundant around Indian Ocean reefs, particularly on the African coast.