Saving turtles demands relentless dedication, innovative science, and an unyielding fight against the human-driven destruction of our oceans. Morukuru Family is dedicated to supporting turtle conservation, which is why the Morukuru Goodwill Foundation proudly supports Nori, a green turtle currently undergoing rehabilitation at the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Turtle Conservation Centre.
Nori was rescued in May 2023 and whilst initially appearing healthy, Nori was easily stressed, swam in clockwise circles repeatedly, and frequently bit at her front flippers. An eye specialist determined that Nori’s right eye did not have a normal response to stimuli and whilst her eyes were cleared it indicated a neurological problem. Cognitive enrichment - tasks where Nori works for a reward - is particularly beneficial in her rehabilitation.
Recently, Rinse Wassenaar, Marketing Manager for Morukuru Family, visited the centre to witness the work that is determining Nori’s future. What he saw was as eye-opening as it was heart-warming.
Nori was waiting just beneath the water’s surface, her presence both serene and powerful. As part of her enrichment exercise, a signal was sent: a pink device resembling a table tennis bat was tossed into the water, a cue Nori has learned to associate with feeding time. Slowly but surely, she made her way to the shallower basin, where a temporary divider was lowered to create an enclosed space – allowing Ayesha to personally assess her feeding habits, cognitive progress, and overall condition.
“This was the moment we had all been waiting for,” Rinse recalls. “Ayesha placed small pieces of fish into the water, carefully observing how Nori responded. She wasted no time – immediately recognising the food and gobbling it up without hesitation. A simple but critical demonstration of her growing strength and confidence.”
The centre has reported that as much as 70% of the turtles in their care have ingested plastic. This is a sobering reminder that turtle conservation is an ongoing effort – one requiring both awareness and action. The team has achieved an incredible 85% release rate – one of the best in the world and their work directly contributes to growing global knowledge on turtle rehabilitation, ensuring that sea turtles survive and thrive when they return to the wild. The work being done at the Turtle Conservation Centre is also about inspiring us all to do better, to tread more lightly on our planet, and to take responsibility for protecting the fragile ecosystems we are so privileged to explore.
Morukuru Family is honoured to play a small role in this journey through the Morukuru Goodwill Foundation.
We eagerly await the moment Nori takes her first strokes back into the ocean. Until then, we celebrate her strength, her resilience, and the incredible team dedicated to her recovery.
Nori was rescued in May 2023 and whilst initially appearing healthy, Nori was easily stressed, swam in clockwise circles repeatedly, and frequently bit at her front flippers. An eye specialist determined that Nori’s right eye did not have a normal response to stimuli and whilst her eyes were cleared it indicated a neurological problem. Cognitive enrichment - tasks where Nori works for a reward - is particularly beneficial in her rehabilitation.
Recently, Rinse Wassenaar, Marketing Manager for Morukuru Family, visited the centre to witness the work that is determining Nori’s future. What he saw was as eye-opening as it was heart-warming.
A warm welcome & an extraordinary encounter
Upon arrival, Rinse was greeted by Alexandra, who guided him behind the scenes of the I&J Ocean Exhibit – a magnificent, large-scale aquatic habitat (6 meters deep and holding approximately 1.6 million litres of water) that now houses Nori, a giant guitarfish, rays, a magnificent Hawksbill turtle, musselcrackers, and various indigenous fish species. Here, Ayesha, one of the passionate turtle conservationists, was preparing for what would be an awe-inspiring session.
Nori was waiting just beneath the water’s surface, her presence both serene and powerful. As part of her enrichment exercise, a signal was sent: a pink device resembling a table tennis bat was tossed into the water, a cue Nori has learned to associate with feeding time. Slowly but surely, she made her way to the shallower basin, where a temporary divider was lowered to create an enclosed space – allowing Ayesha to personally assess her feeding habits, cognitive progress, and overall condition.
“This was the moment we had all been waiting for,” Rinse recalls. “Ayesha placed small pieces of fish into the water, carefully observing how Nori responded. She wasted no time – immediately recognising the food and gobbling it up without hesitation. A simple but critical demonstration of her growing strength and confidence.”
Relearning wild skills, one meal at a time
What followed was a fascinating display of nature meeting nurture. Ayesha set up a special feeding structure made from hollow pipes, specially designed to mimic the complexities Nori would face while foraging in the wild. Pieces of fish and seafood were carefully inserted into the pipes, forcing Nori to engage in natural scavenging behaviours, refining both her problem-solving skills and depth perception. “Nori navigated the structure with intention,” Rinse explains. “We could clearly see that her left-side vision remains stronger, but the progress she has made is incredible. When she was first brought in for rehabilitation, she was just over 20kg. She now weighs more than 40kg – a testament to the dedication of the conservation team.” In just over 10 minutes, Nori successfully located and consumed 1.1kg of food. This is a strong indicator that she is steadily regaining the skills necessary to one day return to the wild. If all continues to go well, that glorious moment may happen this year, with De Hoop Nature Reserve as her release site.
A powerful reminder of our responsibility
As the enrichment session ended, Rinse and the team watched as the team lifted the divider once more, allowing Nori to return to the open waters of the main exhibit. But their visit wasn’t over just yet – there was still more to see and more stories to hear. “We were fortunate to tour the rest of the Turtle Conservation Centre, meeting passionate team members who were caring for other turtles in various stages of recovery,” Rinse reflects. “From tiny hatchlings to larger turtles undergoing treatment, we saw firsthand how plastic pollution and human impact threaten these incredible marine creatures.”
The centre has reported that as much as 70% of the turtles in their care have ingested plastic. This is a sobering reminder that turtle conservation is an ongoing effort – one requiring both awareness and action. The team has achieved an incredible 85% release rate – one of the best in the world and their work directly contributes to growing global knowledge on turtle rehabilitation, ensuring that sea turtles survive and thrive when they return to the wild. The work being done at the Turtle Conservation Centre is also about inspiring us all to do better, to tread more lightly on our planet, and to take responsibility for protecting the fragile ecosystems we are so privileged to explore.
Morukuru Family is honoured to play a small role in this journey through the Morukuru Goodwill Foundation.
We eagerly await the moment Nori takes her first strokes back into the ocean. Until then, we celebrate her strength, her resilience, and the incredible team dedicated to her recovery.
Want to make a difference?
Follow Nori’s journey and learn more about how you can support turtle conservation through our Coastal Conservation with a Purpose package. Every effort helps ensure that turtles like Nori have a future where they belong – wild and free in the open waters.