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Environmental enrichment: The magic tool helping Bob return to the ocean
Rescued green turtle Bob has been in rehabilitation for eight years - but that might be about to change!
The final countdown: The next steps before Bob's potential release
The goal of the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation's turtle team is to rescue, rehabilitate and release all our rescued sea turtle patients once they are fully recovered - even for seemingly permanent residents like Bob, the green turtle. However, each patient faces different obstacles and trauma, and thus has their own unique journey while in our care - and Bob is no exception!
Ragged-tooth sharks: Ocean ambassadors
When it comes to sharks, the "scream and panic" narrative presented by media is unfortunately the more popular one. Sharks are too often portrayed as the monsters of the sea and have minimal opportunity to prove themselves to be otherwise. This is why here at the Two Oceans Aquarium, they are given their “voice”, courtesy of the Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit.
If you haven't had the pleasure of meeting them yet, we’d like to introduce you to the beautiful shiver of ragged-tooth sharks housed at the Aquarium. Growing to 3,2m in length, with a lifespan of 40 years, ragged-tooth sharks are some of the most amazing species found in South Africa’s oceans.
These sharks serve as ambassadors to create awareness of their species, while at the same time providing educational opportunities for their visitors. Our breathtaking Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit provides visitors with the rare and exciting opportunity to experience an up-close encounter with these misunderstood “raggies”, as they are often called.
During your visit, you’re able to learn the true nature of these animals and why they are some of our most beloved. In our captivating Shark Alley, we provide riveting information about these and other sharks that will enlighten and amaze anyone who seeks to learn. For example, did you know that the shape of shark teeth depends on their diet? For example, fish-eating sharks like our ragged-tooth sharks have long, needle-like teeth, which continually move forward to ensure a constant supply of sharp, new teeth and result in sharks losing and replacing thousands of teeth in their lifetime. Their pearly whites can be seen clearly as they swim overhead and up against the exhibit window, which they love to do.
As a result of being slow to reach sexual maturity, as well as their inshore habits making them vulnerable to over-fishing, ragged-tooth sharks are threatened worldwide and are actually regarded as critically endangered by the IUCN. For this reason, along with so many others, the experience of visiting these sharks and learning why they should be kept with us for as long as possible is extremely informative and well worth it.
When you spend time learning, you soon realize that ragged-tooth sharks are not the fearsome animals that Hollywood portrays them as - rather they are a key part of our ecosystem and one that is, sadly, under threat by humans.
5 facts about jellyfish you probably didn't know
If you’ve visited the Two Oceans Aquarium, then you know that the jellies in our Jelly Gallery are among the most majestic animals to look at. If you haven’t popped in yet, we suggest you come and check them out ASAP! Anyway, jellyfish, while being fun to stare at, are more than just aesthetically pleasing. These beauties are quite complex and possess some interesting traits that many people do not know about. So, here are some jelly facts that you’d never guess by just looking at them.
World Fisheries Day: How to protect the environment and livelihoods?
Today is World Fisheries Day, an internationally recognised day intended to highlight the importance and impact of fishing - a practice as old as human civilisation, and one that remains relevant to this day. Fisheries are presently the topic of much debate as society tries to find a balance between the livelihoods of the over 200 million people presently employed in the fishing industry, the 3 billion people who are dependent on healthy coastal ecosystems, and the need to protect and maintain our ocean's biodiversity.
Five fish you might have missed on your Aquarium visit
The Two Oceans Aquarium is home to many different species, and each one plays a significant role in our ocean ecosystem - even the small ones! However, it is pretty easy to visit the Aquarium and be so blown away by seeing a ragged-tooth shark up close, or to be in complete awe of how cute our turtles are, that you might leave the Aquarium having missed out on a few of the smaller, although no less marvellous animals. Let's take a look at five animals that you may have missed during your visit, and that you should definitely check out the next time you're with us:
Experiencing the Reef with the Two Oceans Aquarium
Interacting with the underwater world is what the Two Oceans Aquarium is all about! From this point of view, we get to glimpse life from the perspective of the fish, rays, sharks and other ocean denizens that call the Aquarium home – and get a better understanding of what the natural ocean habitat is like. How do you get to experience this? Here are a few of our favourite underwater Aquarium experiences.
Bring your school to the Aquarium
Strides towards the future: Work Integrated Learning programme at the Two Oceans Aquarium
The Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town has been involved in marine research throughout its 27-year existence. We work with Higher Education Institutes, researchers and scientists from formal conservation bodies and research institutes, Government research departments, and other aquariums. In 2018 the Two Oceans Aquarium signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) with the following aims and objectives: To collaborate on research projects in the fields of marine science and conservation research and technology development, training, and capacity building.
Unlimited visits to the Two Oceans Aquarium - the gift that keeps on giving
What's better than gifting someone a Two Oceans Aquarium ticket? Giving them an entire year of unlimited Aquarium visits!
An annual membership to the Two Oceans Aquarium is fantastic value, and the ideal gift for young ocean-lovers, anyone who loves the quiet of a daily delve into the underwater world, or families that love indulging their curiosity. With a whole year of possibility, it's one gift you can be sure won't be forgotten at the end of the month!
Decide to start: Make a conscious decision to protect Bob’s home
As you may know, beloved Bob the green turtle is on track to be released back into the ocean after eight years of rehabilitation - recovering from severe injury as a result of accidentally eating plastic pollution. This means that we will no longer be able to protect him from the human-made hazards of the ocean, which still has the same dangers he faced in the past - so, it is up to all of us to make a difference. We need to protect Bob's home.
Follow tracks of released turtles Pan and Donny
Pan and Donny are sea turtles that were recently released off different parts of the South African coastline, after successful rehabilitation under the care of the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation. Each of these turtles has been fitted with a satellite tracking tag, which will allow us (and you to follow their ocean journeys and see where these three incredible animals go - providing valuable information for the conservation of this species in South Africa.