After 20 Years Of Captivity, Turtle Travels 37,000km From Africa To Australia In Search Of Home
Yoshi an extraordinary loggerhead turtle that was released from the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town. The turtle was kept in captivity for 20 years and now after her release Yoshis ocean journey has become the longest-ever recorded journey of any tracked animal ever.
Yoshi, an extraordinary loggerhead turtle that was released from the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town.
The turtle was kept in captivity for 20 years, and now after her release, Yoshi¡¯s ocean journey has become the longest-ever recorded journey of any tracked animal ever.
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According to researchers who are keeping a track, the 180-kg turtle has travelled 37 000 kilometres in the 26 months since her release in December 2017.
Through her journey, Yoshi has averaged and maintained a swimming distance of 48 kilometres per day.
Incredible journey of a loggerhead turtle to locate its home. This is Yoshi & she just traveled 37000 kms from Africa to Australia probably to find here nesting grounds. Also incredible to observe how these creatures move to such a length & why we need to protect nesting grounds. pic.twitter.com/P9Fqb2j0wF
¡ª Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) March 11, 2020
The heartwarming post was shared by an IFS officer Parveen Kaswan with the caption, ¡°Incredible journey of a loggerhead turtle to locate its home. This is Yoshi and she just travelled 37000 kms from Africa to Australia probably to find nesting grounds. Also incredible to observe how these creatures move to such a length and why we need to protect nesting grounds.¡±
Reports state that in her initial phase she only circled around South Africa, Namibia etc. while coming to coasts for food, last year, her trajectory shifted outside of Africa and now she is merely 66 kilometres away from the Western Australian Coast.
¡°Yoshi was captive for twenty years. She was found damaged. Later trainers helped her in getting back in right health. She was fitted with a satellite tag. Researchers released her and monitored the journey. In which case she was going where she was once hatched. Her home!!¡± he wrote while replying to his own post.
Turtles are known for going back to their nesting grounds. She swam for two years to reach its home. Once found damaged and soon learned to swim. Incredible story of a 180 KG turtle.
¡ª Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) March 11, 2020
Photo and Information courtesy: Two Oceans Aquarium
"These are incredible animals. The ocean deserves more respect and treatment against plastic rubbish. I am glad she made her way! Many of them don't..." read one comment.
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A user remarked, "Travel as much as you can, as long as you can. Life is not meant to be lived in one place. Left pointing backhand index."
Yoshi was released 27 nautical miles south-west of Hout Bay in 20.6¡ãC water. Her journey took her along the west coast of Africa to Namibia and Angola, where she spent some time.
