It usually starts with a phone call. A fisherman spots a turtle tangled in a discarded net, or a hotel guest finds one washed up on the beach. Within an hour our rescue team is on the way with stretchers, saline drips and a cooled transport tank.
The First Golden Hour
The first sixty minutes after rescue are critical. Dehydration, hypothermia and shock kill more turtles than the initial injury itself. We keep the animal moist, shaded and calm during transport, and never pour fresh water over a saltwater species.
Our vehicle is fitted with a custom padded tank that mimics gentle wave motion, keeping the turtle comfortable on the sometimes bumpy roads back to Nungwi.
Veterinary Assessment
Back at the centre, each turtle receives a full veterinary assessment. We check for buoyancy disorders, shell fractures and internal injuries caused by boat strikes. X-rays reveal swallowed hooks; blood tests uncover infections invisible to the eye.
Every finding is recorded in a case file that follows the turtle throughout its stay, so any team member can pick up its care at a moment's notice.
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation can take weeks or months, depending on the case. Antibiotics, wound cleaning, targeted feeding and swim therapy are the daily routine. Some turtles need surgery to remove hooks or repair cracked shells with marine-grade resin.
We measure success in millimetres and grams: a shell fracture closing, a body weight climbing back to healthy range, a dive time slowly extending from seconds to minutes.
The Release
When a turtle can dive, feed and swim against a current unassisted, it earns its release. We choose calm mornings, safe beaches away from boat traffic, and always invite the person who reported the original rescue to be there.
Data That Saves Lives
Every rescue is documented and shared with regional partners so we can track the pressures facing this endangered species along the East African coast. Patterns in injuries tell us where nets are being abandoned; recovery rates tell us which techniques work best.
The knowledge belongs to everyone. That is how conservation scales.
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