The Two Oceans Aquarium is looking forward to a jam-packed July, filled with a Trash Bash at Mouille Point, Ocean Superheroes at the Aquarium, a turtle Superheroes activation in the V&A Waterfront, and turtle adoptions. Something for everyone!
Trash Bash 2 July:
The Two Oceans Aquarium will be hosting a Trash Bash beach cleanup at Mouille Point on 2 July to clean up the environment and help prevent litter from entering the ocean. The Trash Bash coincides with Plastic Free July and International Plastic Bag Free Day which is celebrated each year on 3 July.
Details:
Date: Saturday 2 July
Time: 09h00 – 11h00
Where: Mouille Point
What to bring: Weather-appropriate clothing, water in a reusable bottle, reusable gloves like the ones one would use for gardening or doing the dishes, and all your enthusiasm, friends, and family!
Cleanups are not only good for the environment, they are also good for humans. Anyone who has spent time taking part in a cleanup knows that it is actually a great chance to have lots of fun, to spend time with friends and family, to breathe in some fresh air, and to leave a slightly better, slightly more informed person.
The Aquarium has again teamed up with Ardagh Glass Packaging – Africa (AGP – Africa, formerly Consol Glass) for great prizes for the three closest guesses of the amount of trash that will be collected on the day. Prizes to be won are solar glass jars, Two Oceans Aquarium reusable shopping bags as well as Aquarium tickets.
To stand a chance to win one of these prizes, register your attendance on the day and record your guess of how much trash you think will be collected.
Ocean Superheroes:
For the second year, the Two Oceans Aquarium has activated its Ocean Superheroes campaign which will be running until 18 July. The bold and vibrant campaign showcases the spectacular superpowers of marine animals and calls on all Ocean Superheroes to unite and take action for the future health of the ocean. Look out for the engaging comic-style signage in the Aquarium, as well as social media posts which will provide fascinating information and facts about marine animals. Some of the animals featured include the Amazing Anemone with its venomous harpoons, the Enigmatic Elephantfish which is half fish and half shark, and the Terrific Turtle that uses its “magnetic” brain to find its way around the oceans of the world.
Ocean Superheroes Turtle Activation in the V&A Waterfront:
From 1 – 3 July, the Two Oceans Aquarium, and the Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation, in partnership with Ardagh Glass Packaging – Africa (AGP – Africa, formerly Consol Glass) and the V&A Waterfront, will have a special interactive and informative #SaveOurTurtles Ocean Superheroes activation in the Centre Court area of the Waterfront’s Victoria Mall. Accessible from both the Food Court and the larger shopping centre area, this activation will focus on messages around the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of sea turtles by the Aquarium Foundation, and a reduction in the use of plastic.
Sea turtles need all of us to be Ocean Superheroes to help them overcome the threats of ghost nets, balloons, plastic bags and microplastics. In 2021, 71% percent of the turtles that were rescued and rehabilitated by the Aquarium Foundation’s programme, had ingested plastic, so there is no disputing the fact that plastic is a huge threat and sea turtles need our help.
The activation in the Waterfront will be a combination of interesting facts, eye-catching design, and interactive play for children. The exhibition has been designed to encourage visitors to learn more about the plight of sea turtles, become familiar with some of the stories of various turtles that have been rehabilitated by the Aquarium Foundation over the years, and to learn more about the Ocean Villains that have caused these turtles to end up in the rehabilitation programme in the first place.
AGP Africa’s involvement with the activation was driven and supported by its #IChanged2050 campaign. “As a business, we aim to get involved in initiatives that drive positive change on the ground. People are realising that we need to act now to protect the environment, but they do not always know where to start. This activation resonates with us as it not only fits within our environmental strategy pillar, but it links to our ‘I Changed 2050’ campaign which encourages change at an individual level,” said Dale Carolin, Senior Group Executive: Marketing and Commercial for Ardagh Glass Packaging – Africa
Turtle Adoptions
The Two Oceans Aquarium and the Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation is encouraging, and calling on members of the public, corporates, and other organisations to adopt one of the sea turtle hatchlings that is currently being rehabilitated by the Foundation. The adoption fee of R6 000 will help cover some of the expenses associated with the rehabilitation of the individual sea turtle until it is healthy and ready for release.
“We are very excited to be launching our 2022 season hatchling adoptions. Looking after each individual little hatchling takes an incredible amount of care and costs a lot of money – approximately R8 000 per individual! We are putting the hatchlings up for adoption at R6 000 to allow members of the public, communities, school groups friends, etc. to join forces to adopt one of these babies,” said Talitha Noble (Conservation Manager, Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation
Funding of the rehabilitation programme relies entirely on donations and sponsorships. In addition to sponsoring the sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and release programme, Ardagh Glass Packaging – Africa has “adopted” two of the turtle hatchlings currently being rehabilitated. The public can visit AGP – Africa’s Facebook page to enter a competition to name the adopted turtles. The winners of the selected names will win tickets to the Two Oceans Aquarium.
Those who are interested in adopting one of these turtles can do so by visiting https://aquariumfoundation.org.za/shop/adopt-a-hatchling/.
With all these amazing activities and activations on offer, July is sure to be an exciting time to visit the Two Oceans Aquarium and take play a part in being an Ocean Superhero!
