Annie is a loggerhead turtle who was rescued from ‘ghost fishing’ gear by the NSRI on Noordhoek Beach in Cape Town in 2019. ‘Ghost fishing’ refers to fishing gear that is lost or abandoned in the ocean after being used, and then continues to trap animals in it unintentionally.
After a year and a half of rehabilitation at the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, she was finally released back into the ocean on 14 January 2021. She was fitted with a satellite tag, thanks to the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries.
Read: Turtle rescued from fishing nets to be released at Cape Point soon
Now, the team shared an update on Annie’s endeavours.
“Our favourite ‘bubble butt’ Annie has been swimming around & exploring Maputo Bay for the last 14 days – lovely place for her to choose to be hanging out of course,” the team said on Facebook on Sunday, July 4.
Annie was affectionately nicknamed ‘Bubble Butt’ because she swam around her tank with her bum in the air. According to Maryke Musson at the Aquarium, “there may [have been] some air trapped in her body cavity, or otherwise she is just one very gassy lady!”
“We are delighted her tag has continued to transmit data, though transmission quality is not perfect, hence some ‘tortoise’ positions spotted,” the team added.
The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation is raising funds for their Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release programme in June & July. If you would like to help them hit their target of R750 000, you can click here to find out more or donate.
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Picture: Martine Viljoen
