We released Bokkie, the amputee green turtle, into iSimangaliso Wetland Park!

Bokkie, the amputee green turtle, took her first plunge back into the Indian Ocean off the Kwa-Zulu Natal coast on 21 October 2024!

After an arduous year of rehabilitation, our Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Turtle Conservation Centre (TCC) team was thrilled to release Bokkie into the Marine Protected Area of iSimangaliso Wetland Park with the help of the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR). Bokkie was joined by Luna, another green turtle who spent just under a year of rehabilitation at the TCC.

Bokkie’s return to the ocean was a priceless moment for the TCC team, who watched as the brave turtle wasted no time covering the short distance between the beach and the surf after her first smell of ocean air. Her amputated flipper was the least of her concerns as she finally plunged into the warm waters of her wild ocean home.

“Watching our three-flippered Bokkie swim off into the reef at Sodwana Bay beach was a moment of pride. However, it is always bittersweet releasing one of our rehabilitated turtles – while we delight in them being strong enough for release, we cannot ensure their safety and survival in a polluted ocean,” reflected Alexandra Panagiotou, Aquatic Scientist and Sea Turtle Enrichment Coordinator at the TCC.

Bokkie’s plastic story is echoed by many of her fellow rehabilitation patients. Human-induced hazards like plastic pollution and discarded fishing gear pose a significant danger to marine wildlife like turtles. 71% of rescued turtles at the TCC have consumed plastic in their lifetimes. Bokkie was one of the fortunate ones as she recovered from her ordeal and quickly grew from strength to strength.

Getting Bokkie ready for release required extensive medical care and treatment. This was made possible by the generous adoption of Bokkie by the Sustainable Trendsetters movement, which includes 20 shopping malls owned by Redefine Properties. Their support covered Bokkie’s medical expenses and her extensive environmental enrichment programme.

Exciting collaboration for turtles

Throughout the release process, the value of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) was illustrated time and time again. Among the benefits of MPAs is that these marine havens provide a safe habitat for rehabilitated turtles such as ours. iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in KwaZulu-Natal, is managed by the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority in partnership with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. Together, they lead conservation efforts to protect and sustain this unique ecosystem and its diverse wildlife. It is the second largest protected area after the Kruger National Park, incorporating the country’s largest Marine Protected Area and was listed as South Africa’s first World Heritage Site in December 1999 in recognition of its excellent natural beauty.

“iSimangaliso is home to the RAMSAR site known as the Coral Reef and Turtle Beaches of Tongaland, a key part of the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area. As iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority, we are elated with the decision to have Bokkie and Luna released here. These iconic ecosystems and species are central to our conservation mission. Each year, we monitor turtle nesting activity and work diligently to ensure that hatchlings make their way safely back to the ocean. It is a privilege to witness moments like the release of Bokkie, a turtle that has travelled far to find sanctuary in iSimangaliso, where she can thrive in the warmth of the Indian Ocean. Stories like Bokkie’s continue to inspire us, strengthening our commitment to conservation in South Africa,” said iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority Acting CEO, Ms Keletso Tembe.

“Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has a long, rich, and proud history associated with sea turtle conservation in South Africa. Having invested over 60 years in active sea turtle protection and conservation, we take immense pride in continuing collaborations that contribute to the survival of these species. We fully appreciate the efforts that South African aquaria invest in sea turtle rehabilitation. For our part, we will continue to strive to ensure that we have the necessary receiving environments ready to accept them safely,” says Santosh Bachoo, Regional Ecologist from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.

This makes the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area a perfect and promising place for the growth of an already thriving turtle conservation and research network of experts.

Following Bokkie’s journey…

One of the ways the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation and its partners hope to learn more about turtle movement and behaviours in Marine Protected Areas and beyond is through tagging.

In the lead-up to her release, the TCC team fitted a satellite tag onto Bokkie’s carapace (top shell). This tag will provide Bokkie’s GPS coordinates, dive time, depth, swimming speed, and even water temperature as she explores the ocean. Her movements will contribute to the growing global database of turtle tracking.

“We are excited about the possibilities of releasing our rehabilitated turtles in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park MPA. Bokkie’s satellite tag gives the team a chance to follow their movements in the weeks and months to come,” explained Talitha Noble-Trull.

If you’d like to receive Bokkie’s first-ever tracking update, sign up for our Turtle Tales mailer.