Cape Town - Lost, critically endangered and a very long way from home – but fortunately for two hawksbill sea turtles, they’ve found a safe haven while their “return tickets” are being sorted out.
The turtles that were both found on the West Coast but at separate times and in different places recently, are being cared for at the Two Oceans Aquarium at the Waterfront while they’re rehabilitated to full health and while staff here try to establish through genetic sampling and testing what population(s) they’re likely to have come from.
The hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is found throughout the warm tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans where it frequents shallow coastal waters where sponges are abundant and sandy nesting sites within reach. The species does not normally come anywhere near the temperate waters of the Cape.
The first turtle, named Otto after the family that found it, washed up at Yzerfontein three months ago, while the second that has not been named was found on the beach at Melkbosstrand just over a week ago.
Senior aquarist at the aquarium Kevin Spiby said hawksbills were really equatorial species living in very distinct populations – “So they’re very lost!”
“At the moment we’re trying to find out which side of Africa they came from so that we know where to release them – MCM (Oceans and Coasts branch of the Department of Environmental Affairs) are going to help us.”
Otto was a mature female – “We assume she’s female judging by the tail length” – and was at the upper extent of the maturity level, Spiby said.
“That’s why we need to release her – she should be out there breeding, laying eggs. She’s in very good health and she’s put on 3kg since she’s been here.
“The little guy, we can’t tell (what sex it is) but it will also be released.
“It’s so hard to tell how he’s doing because reptiles respond so slowly to everything.
“We’ve had them coming in looking a lot worse (and surviving), but then again we’ve had them coming in looking a lot better and we’ve been unsuccessful.
“It’s so hard to tell, so we’re just holding thumbs.”
Tapered head resembles bird’s beak
Hawksbills are not particularly large compared to other sea turtles, growing to between about 65cm and 115cm in shell length and weighing between 45kg and 70kg, according to National Geographic.
This species is estimated to live for between 30 and 50 years. While young, their strikingly coloured, serrated carapace (upper shell) is heart-shaped, and it elongates as they mature.
The turtle gets its name from its tapered head that ends in a sharp point resembling a bird’s beak, and a further distinctive feature is a pair of claws adorning each flipper.
Young hawksbill turtles are unable to dive deep and spend their early years floating among sea plants near the water’s surface.
Cape Argus