A Green Turtle on the road to recovery - Port Edward

At 17h54, Tuesday, 14 December, NSRI Port Edward and Mpenjati Conservancy were alerted by bystanders to a sea turtle appearing to be injured on Umkhobi Beach, Kent Bay.

Gert du Plessis, NSRI Port Edward station commander, said:

Good Samaritan Christopher Kortenhoeven, from Pretoria, had come across the turtle on the beach and he raised the alarm reporting that it was opening and closing its eyes but appeared unable to make any further movements.

NSRI crew, in our sea rescue vehicle, responded to investigate and joined an Mpenjati Conservancy member on the scene.

The Green Turtle, a local species to the area, was found barely alive on the beach.

uShaka Marine World, Durban, were alerted and they agreed to send a member towards Port Edward by road.

A trauma board and blankets were used to gently transport the turtle off the beach and the turtle was loaded into our sea rescue vehicle.

We rendezvoused with the uShaka Marine World member half way between Durban and Port Edward, at the Hibberdene off-ramp, and the turtle was taken into their care.

uShaka Marine World has confirmed that after rehydration and nutrients fed through intravenous therapy and rewarming, the turtle, named Donatello, is on the road to recovery and that while a beach release into a protected area would be most likely it is too early to say when the turtle may be released. NSRI commend the public members who assisted on the scene.