Geri is the newest sea turtle to come into the hands of the Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation after being rescued near Paternoster, an unusual place for stranded turtles.
Geri was rescued with a severe infection and injuries to her remaining front flipper and was incredibly weak (her missing left flipper was an old injury). Green turtles are listed as endangered on the IUCN red list of threatened species, and their numbers are declining.
Regardless of her weak state, she has proven resilient as a patient, making a slow and steady recovery at the aquarium. She was named in honour of the Turtle Rescue Network coordinator, Tracy Whitehead, known to her friends as Geri.
Turtles have the odds stacked against them, with only one to two of every 1 000 hatchlings surviving to maturity. Through the sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation and release programme, the Two Oceans Aquarium’s work contributes to the recovery of sea turtles globally.
If you want to support the rehabilitation of Geri and other endangered sea turtles like her, you can find out how here.
Pictures: Two Oceans Aquarium
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