Robben Island swimmers raise over R600,000 for turtle conservation
Over R60000 has been raised in support of endangered sea turtles
Black News 
A group of about 30 determined open-water swimmers have taken on a challenging 11km crossing from Robben Island to Granger Bay, in Cape Town all in support of endangered sea turtles.
Their aim is to raise vital funds for the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Turtle Conservation Centre, which rescues, rehabilitates, and releases stranded and injured turtles along South Africa’s coastline. Organisers of the event say turtles often wash up on the coastline after being preyed upon by predators and ingesting plastic that pollutes the oceans.
Granger Bay is the future site of the Foundation’s expanded Turtle Conservation Centre.
“We run a turtle conservation centre at Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation. Turtles are the most resilient animals they are tiny and they get easily washed away and there’s so many things that can go wrong for them, so we wanted to swim to raise money and also we wanted to see if we can be resilient as well. We have been raising funds for a hundred turtle centres that are going to be built here at Granger Bay and there’s been 30 of us all sizes and shapes, it’s been amazing,” says Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation Executive Chairperson and spokesperson for the organisers, Ann Lamont.
So far, just over R60 000 has been raised, which is more than the quarter of a million rand that was initially targeted. The swimmers braved a grueling 11km stretch to reach the shore in Waterfront all in the name of charity.
“I did a solo swim and it’s called solo skins which is without the wet suit. Sam also did a solo skin. I have been swimming this cold water swim for about 12e years now since 2014 and we did it for the turtles today because a friend of ours works at the Two Oceans Aquarium and she invited us to do this wonderful swim with her,” says a participant.
Cheering supporters have also braved the cold weather so they could experience this.
“We are excited because this is one of the points the turtle swimmers can potentially see and hear us. We are just here to cheer them on,” says a supporter.
Members of the public are urged to learn more about turtle conservation, and find out how they can support this important work.
