On 27 January, Bob – a green leatherback turtle – was released into the uThukela Marine Protected Area (MPA), which is split into different zones that each have additional regulations. He swam 3 km, kept to 100m offshore, and stayed within the controlled area of uThukela, which only allows limited fishing activities.
Picture: Linda Ness
The last time we checked in, Bob was four days into his journey 12km offshore from the Thugela River Mouth but seemed like he was heading back to shore again. It seemed like he was staying meandering within the MPA.
Read: Bob released into the wild after 8 year recovery at Two Oceans Aquarium
The Two Oceans Aquarium gave us an 11-day update, with Bob finding another gear, swimming 22 km over two days. He would eventually muster his energy to swim against the current to reach the northernmost point of his journey so far: 28km offshore from Umlalazi Nature Reserve, right on the edge of the Agulhas current.
‘Entering into the warm, fast-flowing Agulhas current, Bob could cruise easily as the current speed doubled from 0.3m/s to 1m/s! As he moved south, Bob continued to move away from the coast, about 20-40km offshore,’ Two Oceans Conservation Coordinator, Talitha Noble, said.
Bob turned round into the fully protected part of the reserve along the uThukela Banks with its ancient black coral trees.
Bob’s stats:
Distance travelled: 307km
Distance from shore: 40km
Water Temperature: 27 degrees
Water Depth: 433m
Pictures: Two Oceans Aquarium
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