FELA: Friends of the East London Aquarium

03/02/2025

28/01/2025

Seeing Crush from this perspective is such a reward for so many of us ...she swims strong and takes a good breath and disappears into an ocean that owns her and she owns it...healed and free....thank you all!

23/01/2025

Crush: The Green Turtle eventually released after many months of rehabilitation

23/01/2025

This seal pup was spotted at Nahoon Corner on Saturday morning, it is currently at the East London Aquarium for a little TLC! Once they are satisfied that everything is OK, it will be transported to Bay World in PE, and released.
❗️❗️𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗚:
Please do 𝗻𝗼𝘁 engage with any marine mammal found on the beach.
Do not touch it or try to get it back into the water. We can expect a few yearlings beaching in our area this time of the year. They are still adjusting to being on their own and not being fed by a mother, so chances are that they will wash up on the beach to rest. In some instances they could be injured and specialist intervention will be needed.
(same goes for turtles)
❗️❗️𝗦𝗢, 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗗𝗢 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗧 𝗔 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗟 𝗢𝗡 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗.
1. Do not approach or touch
2. Do not shout at it, or chase away
3. If you can, take a photo and send to either 𝗦𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗶 𝗧𝗶𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝟬𝟴𝟮 𝟯𝟮𝟴 𝟭𝟭𝟮𝟭, or 𝗞𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝟬𝟴𝟮 𝟯𝟬𝟮 𝟮𝟱𝟱𝟱. You can also call the EL Aquarium on 043 722 0101 (during office hours)
4. Be also on the look-out for turtles, and please report any sightings.

📷 Jamie-Lynn Smith

23/01/2025

Today is Penguin Awareness Day and in support of the fantastic work done by and BirdLife South Africa, we decided to dress up in black and white and shine a spotlight on the incredible work they are doing to save our endemic African penguin from extinction.

Sanccob Saves Seabirds SANCCOB saves seabirds BirdLife South Africa
Penguin Promises African Penguin NOOW

23/01/2025

Kelpie turned 41 today and although he still has tremendous energy and buckets of charm, he has officially joined the much loved and treasured geriatric members of our family (not the people).

In modern zoos and aquaria- and especially those accredited by WAZA- the level of husbandry and medical care is of such a high standard that a lot of the animals reach an age they would not normally attain in the wild. This creates a new specialised field with its associated challenges- caring for older animals.

Celebrating this Birthday with him were three SAAMBR Admin and Finance staff members who are all turning 41 this year.

Happy Birthday beloved Kelpie.

uShaka Marine World

23/01/2025

This is Crush, a green turtle.
The 47kg Chelonia mydas, with a shell length of 740cm and width of 690cm, washed up at Glen Eden near East London on 9 September in a bad way. She somehow ingested nylon which caused an obstruction. Normally when there is obstruction or gas in the intestines or digestive system they are unable to dive and eat and they float on the sea surface.
On Wednesday morning, 6am sharp, Crush was released back into the ocean after her 134-day 'rescue, repair, rehabilitation and recreational stay' at the East London Aquarium. 😉
A small, intimate crowd of 30 funders, sponsors, marine biologist Siani Tinley and animal health and rehabilitation technician Ilse Reeder, Dispatch photographer Alan Eason and digital video maker, the lifeguard and swim teacher Madison Malherbe all witnessed this joyous event.

Please report any washed up marine mamals to either 𝗦𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗶 𝗧𝗶𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝟬𝟴𝟮 𝟯𝟮𝟴 𝟭𝟭𝟮𝟭, or 𝗞𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝟬𝟴𝟮 𝟯𝟬𝟮 𝟮𝟱𝟱𝟱. You can also call the EL Aquarium on 043 722 0101 (during office hours)

📷 Alan Eason, Daily Dispatch

22/01/2025

The Bay of Biscay, stretching from the tip of Brittany, in western France, to the north of Spain, is a major fishing zone in the Atlantic Ocean. It’s also home to around 200,000 dolphins.

21/01/2025

Without immediate government action, the African Penguin, an iconic symbol of South Africa, could vanish from the wild by 2035.

20/01/2025

18/01/2025

Early morning Durban beachgoers were greeted by a bloom of uncommon inshore visitors yesterday morning, the Night light or Mauve stinger jellyfish.

Although the KZN coastline falls within their natural distribution, they are a pelagic species and are not normally found close to the shore. “The recent strong winds we have been experiencing over the past few days probably pushed them close to the shore” said SAAMBR Aquarist, Tim Smith.

These small particularly beautiful jellyfish are capable of stinging on contact even after they have washed up on the beach. These jellies are capable of producing a small amount of light (a form of bioluminescence) which is usually only visible in the dark of night, hence their name “Night Light Jellyfish”. They primarily consume planktonic material including the eggs and larvae of a variety of species including small invertebrates. In KZN waters they are in turn preyed upon by turtles and bigger jellyfish.

If you or your child is stung by one of these jellyfish, rinse the affected area continuously with warm water until the pain subsides. Although uncommon, severe reactions or prolonged side effects should be taken to a medical professional.

03/01/2025

Rare butterfly flies 3,000km from Japan to Hong Kong in migratory record
https://biosch.hku.hk/3000-kilometers-4-months-and-1-tiny-traveler-the-chestnut-tigers-epic-flight-from-japan-to-hong-kong/

27/12/2024

⚠️Boulders Beach closed ⚠️

Dear Visitors,

Kindly be advised that the beach section of the Boulders Penguin Colony has reached capacity and is currently closed. The beach area will be reopened to visitors once sufficient space allocation is available.

25/12/2024

25/12/2024

Merry Christmas from all of us at the East London Aquarium.