TURTLE REHAB WARRIOR

My name is Keira King, I am 15 years old, live in Durban, South Africa, and have a love for our oceans. I live in the seaside town of Umhlanga Rocks and have grown up having a passion for all the life in the ocean .

In the past few years, I have begun to notice that our oceans are deteriorating at an alarming rate and the effects have begun to show. I can't even go for a swim or a paddle without bumping into something plastic . This breaks my heart not only because of the visual factor but from a wildlife point of view. Our marine wildlife has had an increased mortality rate over the past decade and the main cause is plastic.

To tackle plastic on its own is a massive task so I have decided to start with the animals that have been plastics' biggest target, turtles. I am sure we have all heard of how straws are a massive 'turtle killer' but trying to eliminate straws is like saving the amazon by not using toothpicks . Fishing nets and plastic bags are turtles' biggest preditors on top of having very low survival rates at birth and if they do end up surviving they have the treats of sharks and humans.

So if we are being honest, we are turtles' biggest threat and it is our job to help keep them healthy and safe. I have committed to swim the 7,5km Robeen island swim in April 2022 to raise funds for turtle rehab. I have teamed up with 2 oceans aquarium turtle rehabilitation center and my goal is to raise R50 000 throughout 2022.