Three green and two loggerhead turtles were released back into the ocean off Algoa Bay’s St Croix Island on Saturday.
Bayworld oceanarium curator Ruth Wright said for the first time they would be tracking the movements of one of the adult green turtles, estimated to be about 15 years old.
The other two green turtles are about eight years old.
“With the help of the department of environmental affairs and the Pan-African Association of Zoos and Aquaria, we were able to fit Cedar [the turtle] with a satellite tag – this will help track her movements.
“The tag was sponsored and we will be tracking Cedar for the next 24 months depending on the battery power.
“The tag will naturally fall off as she ages,” Wright said.
“It is believed she will head back up the coast to her breeding grounds.
“This is exciting as we are not sure exactly where these green turtles go to nest once leaving Algoa Bay.”
All three green turtles were found stranded along the Bay’s coastline.
“Two small 300g loggerheads were released. They had hatched in KwaZulu-Natal and were found stranded.
“Chances of survival when they hatch are low.”
Speaking about the rehabilitation process, Wright said: “Each animal that comes in has its own unique needs – everything [we do] is case-specific.
“Often it would be getting them to start feeding, supplementing their diet and taking them to the vet for X-rays.”
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists green turtles as endangered.
Dylan Bailey, also a curator at the Bayworld oceanarium, said the stranding rate of green turtles varied each year.
“Some years we can have six to eight greens stranded and some years we go without seeing one.”
Bailey said there was a lot they did not know about the green turtle migration.
“The satellite tracking is quite important because there’s a lot we don’t know, like when they migrate back up to the breeding ground and at what age.”