Thursday, February 21, 2013

Homeward bound

Sea Turtle release in Juno Beach

The science outreach committee attended a turtle release at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, Feb 20, 2013. Three rehabilitated turtles were released back into the ocean.

Two of the turtles were sub-adult Loggerhead sea turtles "that stranded in the Cape Cod area cold-stunned. The turtles were suffering from hypothermia and were transferred to LMC to receive long-term treatment as facilities in the New England area were over-capacity with other cold-stunned sea turtles" (LMC, 2013). The third was a local Lake Worth rescue. He ingested a fishing hook at the Lake Worth pier.

The local rescue turtle was fitted with a tracking device so researchers can learn about his behavioral patterns and where he is from.

You can read about the center and all the patients in their care by going to this link.

The Loggerhead marinelife Center's website gives very useful information about what they do and why it is important. Check it out here:  http://www.marinelife.org

"LMC researchers have documented the nesting activity on 6 miles of beach in Juno and Jupiter since 1989, making our data set one of the longest-running in the State of Florida. Beginning in 2007, the staff expanded our program to include the beaches of Tequesta/Jupiter Colony and south of the Jupiter Inlet" (LMC, 2013).

The center is free and open to the public. There are many interactive programs available, as well as a gift shop. The Loggerhead Marinelife Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit education and ocean conservation facility.

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