The recent rescue of an injured green sea turtle at the Koeberg Nature Reserve, and its delivery to the Two Oceans Aquarium for veterinary treatment and recuperation, highlights what people should do with an injured or stranded green sea turtle or other sea animal.
Aquarium spokesperson Renee Leeuwner said the turtle (Chelonia mydas), which has since its rescue on September 19 been named Nanuk by the aquarium’s rehabilitation and release centre staff, was found wedged between cooling pipes.
It had been trapped in a coolant intake pipe at the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, said Leeuwner.
“Unfortunately it was clear that her shell had been damaged - there was a large crack in the tail section of her carapace.
“Our animal health team is currently experimenting with a set of braces for her shell,” said Leeuwner, who explained that the braces consist of small hooks bonded onto the shell with strong wires between them to pull her shell into the correct alignment.
“We are still busy sorting her out. She is in a quarantine area. I have no idea when she will be released. Reptile healing is very slow and we’re monitoring it all the time.”
Explaining how one could help stranded sea animals and sea turtles - most likely hatchlings the size of a person’s hand and suffering from hypothermia - she said: “The first thing to do is remove the turtle from the beach and place it in a dry container where it cannot drown. Keep it at room temperature to warm up slowly.”
Turtles suffering from hypothermia are in most instances so weak that they cannot lift their heads, and because they breathe just like humans, they would drown if they cannot lift their heads out of the water to breathe.
When calling the aquarium at 021 418 3823, people rescuing the animal should note where it was found and accurate size and species of the turtle to prepare a specific rehabilitation tank.