Karoline Hanks ran 194km to support Sage, the olive ridley turtle

Our Turtle Conservation Centre recently celebrated the incredible determination of Karoline Hanks, who dedicated every kilometre of an extraordinary 194km run to our special olive ridley turtle, Sage.

In a characteristic show of courage and compassion, Karoline took on the equivalent of not one, but three Peninsula Ultra Fun Run (PUFfeR) races to raise funds for Sage’s rehabilitation. Over two days, she ran back and forth between Cape Point Nature Reserve and Green Point Rugby Club, quickly surpassing her fundraising goal of R80 000.

Karoline was inspired by Sage, a rare olive ridley turtle who washed ashore in the De Hoop Marine Protected Area in December 2025, entangled in a 30kg ghost fishing net. The entanglement could easily have been a death sentence, but thanks to the efforts of the Turtle Rescue Network, Sage beat the odds and is now well on her way to a full recovery.

Karoline’s incredible contribution will help support Sage’s ongoing rehabilitation at our Turtle Conservation Centre and enable us to fit her with an acoustic tag before her release. This would allow the team to follow Sage’s movements after she returns to the ocean, providing valuable insight into the movements of this rarely encountered species and helping us better understand how to protect turtles in an ocean increasingly affected by human-made hazards.

To drive home the reason behind her extraordinary challenge, Karoline even carried the 30kg ghost fishing net that had entangled Sage for part of her home stretch. Her message was simple but powerful: Sage had no choice but to carry on.

Karoline, thank you for your incredible strength, generosity, and commitment to Sage and ocean conservation. Taking on such an extraordinary challenge to support a turtle in need is truly inspiring.

Your efforts have not only helped Sage on her road to recovery, but have also shone a light on the devastating impact of ghost fishing gear and the importance of protecting marine wildlife. We are incredibly grateful for the care, compassion, and conservation spirit you have shown – and for being such a wonderful advocate for Sage and our ocean.