A large green turtle which travelled past the South Coast was rescued when it took a break to rest at a beach off the North Coast last weekend.
This ‘grand old lady’ is undoubtedly the oldest female turtle the uShaka Sea World turtle rehabilitation team has ever admitted into South African Association for Marine Biological Research’s (SAAMBR) care.
The turtle, now named Storm weighs a massive 163kg, and measures 111cm in length.
Ann Kunz from SAAMBR said with the support of members of the KZN Stranding Network, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife staff transported her from the beach where she had been stranded to Sea Turtle Hospital at uShaka Sea World.
“As well as being positively buoyant, she was noticeably bloated and carrying a high load of external parasites. She was given the name Storm and placed in a shallow observation pool after being given IV fluids and left to rest overnight,” said Kunz.
Kunz said she has started a course of antibiotics, and currently her prognosis is guarded.
“We will continue to administer fluids and allow her to rest in the hope she soon regains her strength,” she said.
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