Two Oceans Aquarium celebrates turtle conservation

Plans for the construction of a new state-of-the-art Turtle Conservation Centre (TCC) in the Waterfront’s Granger Bay precinct got a much-needed impetus on Thursday 29 May during the annual One Blue Heart event at the One&Only in Cape Town.

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A first of this scale in Africa, the new stand-alone TCC will include a turtle rehabilitation hospital, education facilities, ample space for exhibition displays, a restaurant, and a shop. Construction on the TCC is set to start around the middle of next year.

The current facility at the Two Oceans Aquarium rescues, rehabilitates and releases various species of turtles found along South Africa’s coastline. This is critical work given that all seven species of turtles are either endangered or critically endangered.

During Thursday's event, now in its third year, the spotlight shone on the Two Oceans Aquarium’s Foundation Turtle Conservation Centre team as they shared their personal turtle stories and experiences of “turtle-geddon” as last year’s hatchling stranding season, which experienced an unprecedented turtle hatchling stranding season with over 600 hatchlings washing ashore and needing care.

Each team member captivated the audience with their deep care and passion for the ancient ocean travellers, inspiring hope for the future of our ocean.