WATCH: footage and facts for World Turtle Day

WORLD Turtle Day is observed each year on May 23 to promote awareness and conservation of turtles and tortoises. The awareness day began in 2000 and is sponsored by the American Tortoise Rescue.

Berea Mail visited uShaka Marine World to find out more about turtles and the challenges threatening these endangered sea creatures.

The survival rate of turtle hatchlings is already slim before plastic pollution is factored in.

“Hundreds of turtle hatchlings are rescued and rehabilitated along South Africa’s coastline each year,” said newly appointed executive manager for uShaka Sea World, Maryke Musson.

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“When sea turtles hatch, just one or two out of a thousand will survive to maturity,” said Musson.

Turtle hatchlings often wash up on local coastlines during their first few years of life.

“Turtles hatch on the beaches in northern KZN and Mozambique and swim into the surf zone where they enter the warm Agulhas Current. If they drift out of the current, the cold water can stun them, and they will land up on the beach,” said Musson.

ALSO READ:Loggerhead turtle recovers at uShaka Sea World after shark attack

Many of these turtles are picked up by one of several conservationist organisations. Musson said rehabilitation in SA is very active with about 100 turtles being rescued, rehabilitated and released per year.

“In South Africa, we find five of the seven different turtle species visiting our shores. Only the loggerhead and leatherback turtles breed along our coastline, so we see many juveniles wash up on our beaches. All turtle species are endangered, so we really need to work to conserve them,” said Musson.