Tiny turtle rescued on KZN North Coast after struggling at sea

A tiny sea turtle hatchling found on a beach on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast is recovering after being rescued and taken to the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR) Turtle Rehabilitation Centre at uShaka Sea World in Durban. The baby loggerhead turtle was discovered by a member of the public between Sheffield and Salt Rock. The hatchling is extremely small, measuring 5.8 cm across.

Photos sent to rescuers showed the turtle covered in goose barnacles, suggesting it had been struggling at sea for some time. The hatchling was safely transported to Durban with help from staff at Flag Animal Farm. SAAMBR veterinarian Dr Francois Lampen examined the tiny turtle, which weighed only 35 grams.

Around 10 grams of that weight was made up of the barnacles attached to its shell. The turtle was given glucose and fluids and placed in a freshwater dip to help loosen and remove the barnacles. Goose barnacles are not harmful parasites.

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They are small crustaceans that attach to floating objects such as driftwood, plastic or boats. However, they usually only attach when something is drifting slowly at the surface. The number of barnacles on the hatchling suggests it may have spent several days drifting or struggling before washing ashore.

SAAMBR, which celebrates 75 years of marine research and conservation this year, runs one of Africa’s best known turtle rehabilitation programmes. The centre cares for stranded and injured turtles found along the KwaZulu-Natal coast until they are strong enough to return to the ocean.

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