Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary

Orton King, a Bequia fisherman, began collecting hawksbill hatchlings from the beaches in 1995 and raising them in tanks for several years before release, on the reasoning that a turtle that survives its first vulnerable years has a far better chance, and the sanctuary he built at Park Bay has released thousands since. He died in 2020 and the project has continued under family and staff. Turtles of several sizes are held in the tanks.

The main sights

• The holding tanks - hawksbill turtles at several stages of growth.
• The headstart method - hatchlings raised past their most vulnerable years before release.
• The founder's story - a fisherman who ran the project for a quarter of a century.
• The release record - thousands of turtles returned to the sea since 1995.

When to go

December to May is the dry season. The sanctuary keeps daytime hours. Hatchlings arrive in the nesting season from around May.

Good to know

Headstarting turtles in tanks is debated among conservation scientists and the benefits are not settled. The tanks are basic and crowded. Funding depends entirely on entry fees.

Nearby

Port Elizabeth is southwest, and Princess Margaret Beach is beyond it.