A new initiative, Tag a Turtle, invites travellers to sponsor and name a turtle as part of efforts to protect endangered marine species along South Africa’s Maputaland coastline in Northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Run by Big Skies in partnership with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the Tim Neary Turtle Trust, the campaign funds turtle monitors and conservation research within one of the country’s most important nesting areas for leatherback and loggerhead turtles.
For R500 (US$29), participants can sponsor a flipper tag and receive a welcome email, a unique tag number, nesting information and the opportunity to name their turtle. Updates are shared via email whenever new data becomes available with a summary report issued at the end of the nesting season. The pilot programme is limited to 30 tags.
“All funds received after payment processing fees will contribute towards turtle research and conservation in Maputaland,” the organisers said.
The initiative aims to deepen public engagement with turtle conservation by combining accessible participation with educational content. Partnering with turtles.co.za, the project also provides plain-language summaries of academic research to help sponsors understand the ecological significance of the species they are helping protect.
For more information or to participate, visit the Tag a Turtle website here.
