What’s more fun than a turtle release in Juno Beach? Nothing 😊
Thanks to the crew and staff at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, two of nature’s finest slipped back into the sea to resume their daily routine of swimming and loving life. A crowd of more than one hundred visitors got a wonderful treat on this Halloween day as the two Loggerhead Sea Turtles aptly named Rosie and Providencia headed back out to sea after rehabbing at the center’s hospital.
Rosie had been at the Marinelife Center recovering from injuries for more than 22 months and although Providencia’s stay was a little shorter, it was very necessary nonetheless. Just a fun little note, the Center recently celebrated Providencia’s 35th birthday.
For over 30 years, Loggerhead Marinelife Center has been dedicated to the rehabilitation of sick and injured turtles. The facility is state-of-the-art and boasts a staff of more than 350 full-time and part-time paid and volunteer members.
According to Dr. Charles Manire, Director of Research and Rehabilitation at the Center, more than 50 to 60 turtles are released back into the wild each year, along with 1000’s of hatchlings. Loggerhead and Leatherback Sea Turtles primarily find their way into the Marinelife Center’s care but as many as 6 different species of turtles have been treated at the center, said Dr. Manire.
One of the really fun aspects of the Center’s activities includes tracking the released turtles as they roam the ocean and let scientists discover their habits and movements throughout the years. Visitors can also follow along with the tracking by going to the Centers website and clicking on the Tracking page and pick any of the latest turtles that are tracked by the Center’s research team.
Go to https://marinelife.org/tracking/ to follow all the turtles being tracked including Providencia who was fitted with a tracker prior to the release today.
If you would like to learn more about the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, go to https://marinelife.org to get all the information on the Center and its activities.
The Marinelife Center is always engaging younger visitors with workshops and activities that bring awareness to the patients treated at the Center. Programs like Dr. Loggerhead, Turtle Talk and Guided tours make for fun and fascinating visits to the Center and help raise awareness about the sea turtles living in our waters.
You can support Loggerhead Marinelife Center by “adopting” a sea turtle patient starting at just $35. Your adoption directly benefits the continued care and treatment of sick and injured sea turtles as well as further study of the green, leatherback, and loggerhead sea turtles that nest on 9.5 miles of shore in Juno Beach, Jupiter and Tequesta.
Written by Scott Richardson