Wasabi, our beloved green sea turtle, who has become a favourite member of the I&J Predator Exhibit crew, will be relocated to Durban’s uShaka Marine World today. Wasabi is being moved to warmer climates because she has chronic arthritis in her right flipper.
The Aquarium will start preparing Wasabi for her flight on 1time airline from about 11h00. She’ll leave for the airport at 11h45 and her plane is scheduled to take off for KwaZulu-Natal at 14h30.
Wasabi was found washed up on Muizenburg Beach by a member of the public. When she was found, she was weak and dehydrated from being exposed to the cold False Bay waters, a long way from her warm Indian Ocean home.
She was slowly nursed back to health by the aquarists and as soon as she was big enough, she was moved to the I&J Predator Exhibit.
The green turtle gets its name from the colour of its skin and not of its shell, which is usually brown or olive. It can weigh up to 317.5kg, making it one of the biggest sea turtles on Earth.
Green turtles are endangered because humans are destroying their nesting grounds; they’re also slaughtered for their eggs and meat, although they themselves are herbivores, feeding on algae and sea grasses.
You’ll be sorely, missed, Wasabi, but we know the folks at uShaka will take great care of you!
