An important function of Sea World is the rehabilitation of marine animals that are stranded along the KwaZulu-Natal coast. The stranded animals are cared for by dedicated staff in our specially designed rehabilitation centre. Once healthy, most of the animals are returned to the sea or, if this is not possible, they are given a home at Sea World.
These animals include seals that wash up on our beaches, hundreds of kilometres from their nearest colonies. Many seal pups wash up on our beaches during the annual sardine run, a massive migration of huge schools of these small silver fish. It is thought that, in their eagerness to follow the sardines, the seal pups become disorientated and land up on a beach dehydrated, very hungry and a long way from home. They are given immediate treatment based on fluid replacement and antibiotic and vitamin administration. It can take anything from one to four months before the seal is strong enough to be released.
African penguins, one of the rarer penguin species, periodically appear on KwaZulu Natal beaches. These birds are brought to Sea World for their own safety. If they are injured or sick, we administer the appropriate treatment. Some simply need a little space and privacy to complete their moult. Once healthy, the birds are ringed for identification purposes and released at sea.
Turtles are often victims of pollution at sea. They can become entangled in nets, fishing line or can swallow plastic bags. As slow moving creatures, some are injured by the propellers of boats. If possible, stranded turtles are treated and nursed back to health by Sea World staff. Once they have fully recovered, the turtles are released offshore, to return to their wandering lifestyle.
Sea World also actively assists in the aftermath of environmental disasters, such as the Treasure oil spill in June 2000. Over 3 000 penguin chicks were cared for by Sea World staff and volunteers. Once the oil had been cleaned up and it was safe for the chicks, they were returned to their colonies in the Cape.
