The endangered Knysna seahorse (Hippocampus capensis)—South Africa’s only endemic seahorse species—has recently received a fresh start at the SANParks educational display tank on Thesen Island in Knysna. This restocking forms part of SANParks’ broader mission to promote environmental education and raise public awareness about marine conservation within the Garden Route National Park.
Picture/SANParks/George Herald
A critically endangered local icon
“This rare species is found naturally only in three estuaries in the world: Swartvlei, Knysna, and Keurbooms—and they are all located within the Garden Route,” explains SANParks’ Head of Communications, JP Louw. The Knysna seahorse is globally endangered and particularly vulnerable to habitat degradation and pollution.
The display tank at the SANParks Thesen Island office remains one of the few places in South Africa licensed to house and exhibit these delicate marine animals for educational purposes. “The display tank offers visitors a unique opportunity to view these iconic marine creatures up close while learning about the threats they face in the wild,” says Louw.
A delicate balance
Though the educational permit allows SANParks to house up to 50 adult seahorses, the tank’s population had dwindled by early 2024, with fewer than three breeding pairs remaining. This was mainly due to natural ageing, as many of the original seahorses had surpassed their typical five-year lifespan.
SANParks conducted a once-off restocking operation by introducing six young adults directly from the Knysna estuary to bolster the tank’s population and maintain healthy genetic diversity.
This move aligns with SANParks’ standing Threatened or Protected Species (ToPS) permit from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), in combination with an exemption under the Marine Living Resources Act (MLRA) dating back to August 2016.
“These new additions are already contributing to improved breeding success, with recent signs of spawning offering hope for a sustainable, self-sustaining population in the display tank,” Louw adds.
Public members are invited to visit the SANParks Thesen Island office to witness these tiny treasures firsthand and learn more about the efforts to protect one of the Garden Route’s most precious marine inhabitants.
This article originally appeared in the George Herald.
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