Coast KZN

State of the Coast: KZN
State of the Coast: KZN

State of the Coast: KwaZulu-Natal Chapter 1: Introduction & Background Chapter 2: Overarching Drivers Chapter 3: Climate Variability
Chapter 4: Coastal Environment Chapter 5: Estuarine Environment Chapter 6: Marine Environment Chapter 7: Human Environment Chapter 8: Economic Environment
Chapter 9: Governance Environment Chapter 10: Conclusions
The Profile of the KZN Coast
The Profile of the KZN Coast

Ugu Lwethu- Our Coast Defining the Coastal Zone The Physical and Coastal Environment Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
Coastal and Marine Species Migrations The Human Dimension Socio-Economic Uses of the Coast Commercial Resource Uses
Pressures and Threats Management of the Coastal and Marine Environments Understanding our Coast
Coastal access
Coastal access

Access RoutesBoat Launch SitesThe Human DimensionCoastal Access: Stats & Facts
Estuaries
Estuaries

What is an Estuary? Know your Estuaries Estuary Health and Conservation KZN Estuary Observer Programme
Historical Time Series Estuary Mouth Status Sand Mining
Recreation
Recreation

Fish TaggingAccess RoutesBlue Flag Beaches
Coastal risk and vulnerability
Coastal risk and vulnerability

Coastal Risk LinesExtreme EventsCoastal ErosionKZN Coastal Vulnerability IndexPollution
Coastal issues
Coastal issues

PollutionSand MiningCoastal ErosionNurdlesUPL Chemical Spill
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09 Apr 2021

Stella the turtle’s mission to return to sea

Reece Reid (Zululand Observer) Picture: (Left): Stella's transport to Mission Rocks, (right): Stella on the beach ready for release

Five months after being rescued and rehabilitated, Stella the green turtle was recently released at Mission Rocks in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

She was rescued from Zinkwazi beach where she was found lying on her back, and was transported to the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR) at uShaka Marine World in Durban.

On arrival in Durban, she was taken for X-rays and various other check-ups, and no issues were found. But when SAAMBR attempted to release the turtle, she was buoyant and unable to dive. It was then determined that she had an infection, from which green turtles can take up to a year to recover, owing to their slow metabolism. Stella, instead, miraculously overcame her infection in just under six months.

iSimangaliso Wetland Park was decided upon as an ideal release site for rehabilitated green turtles owing to its 221 km of coastline. It is also a hot spot for visiting turtles, both local and international, between November and March.

 

Online Article