Tracking our turtles: Nori, the long-distance explorer

Nori the green turtle has now spent almost four months in the ocean! Since she was released into the De Hoop Marine Protected Area 110 days ago, she has made the most of the opportunity to cover impressive distances. 

Nori was rescued in Witsand in 2023 and, upon arriving at our Turtle Conservation Centre, was diagnosed with eyesight and neurological issues. Her successful rehabilitation hinged on an extensive environmental enrichment programme that encouraged her wild behaviours, provided mental stimulation, and facilitated problem-solving. After two years of rehabilitation, supported by her adopters and longtime friends, Morukuru Goodwill Foundation, our veterinary team declared Nori ready for release! 

Together with three other rehabilitated turtles, Nori re-entered her ocean home in De Hoop MPA on 26 November 2025. Within days of her release, her satellite tag showed that Nori headed southwest, completing a small loop in the surface currents before turning north and settling into a steady, determined, and directional swim.

Interestingly, Nori’s tracks show that she has not relied heavily on the surface currents as she travels north. The water temperatures have been a comfortable 23 – 25°C and are not particularly productive (nutrient-rich) as Nori is travelling outside the band of high productivity running along the southern African West Coast. Together, these factors indicate that Nori is travelling with intention rather than foraging for food! 

At the end of February, Nori began crossing Walvis Ridge, a chain of underwater mountains that stretches across the South Atlantic Ocean from the coast of Namibia towards the mid-ocean ridge. Formed by ancient volcanic activity, the seamounts of Walvis Ridge rise thousands of metres from the seafloor and have a significant influence on how water moves through this part of the ocean. The slopes of these underwater mountains cause the upwelling of nutrients, so Nori may have paused here for some travel snacks!

Continuing north over the Walvis Ridge, Nori’s latest transmission came from about 1 200km northwest of Swakopmund in Namibia and 1 000km southeast of Saint Helena Island. In total, Nori has covered an impressive 5 230km, averaging 47.5km per day!

It will be fascinating to see where Nori ventures next: Will she head closer to the Namibian coast, continue on her purposeful travels, or explore the islands to her left?