Celebrate Turtle Day April 17; Release of sub-adult loggerhead anticipation

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April 13, 2010
Michelle Coats, APR, CPRC
Community Information Specialist

Celebrate Turtle Day April 17; Release of sub-adult loggerhead anticipation

For eight years, Volusia County’s Marine Science Center (MSC) in Ponce Inlet has cared for thousands of sick or injured sea turtles, seabirds and more. Again this year, hundreds of citizens are expected to join the county in celebrating animal rehabilitation and raising awareness about marine life and the environment as the MSC stages its annual Turtle Day from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday, April 17. The very popular event will culminate with the release of rehabilitated wildlife back to their natural environment. Releases will be at Winter Haven Park in Ponce Inlet at 3 p.m..

Marine Science Center director Ray Davis is anticipating another exciting, and fun-filled Turtle Day. “There are a wide assortment of activities for our guests to enjoy as well as plenty of food,” said Davis, “The animal triage is expected to be a very popular activity again this year.”

Turtle Day is a celebration of bird and turtle rehabilitation in Volusia County. Through March, the MSC has received 633 juvenile to adult sea turtles, 13,971 turtle hatchlings and washbacks, and 752 miscellaneous reptiles (gopher tortoises, freshwater turtles and snakes), bringing total number of reptiles received by the Marine Science Center to 15,356 since it opened in 2002.

The highlight of Turtle Day is the likely release of a sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle named Nestle. Nestle arrived at the center on January 10 during the mass cold stun stranding event. Nestle had been debilitated by the cold waters, was underweight and suffering from an intestinal impaction. After almost four months of rehabilitation, Nestle now weighs almost 90 pounds and is ready for release back to the ocean. Several gulls and pelicans are scheduled to be released as well.

The Mary Keller Seabird Rehabilitation Facility at the MSC has received over 6,000 birds since opening in 2004. Sea turtle and seabird releases are subject to change due to animal health or environmental conditions.

Parking for the event is at Lighthouse Point Park. Additional offsite parking areas with shuttle service include:

Seven-Eleven parking lot at Harbour Village, 4600 S. Atlantic Avenue, Ponce Inlet

Ponce Inlet Community Center, 4670 S. Peninsula Drive, Ponce Inlet

Ponce Inlet Lighthouse (Rear overflow parking lot only), 4931 S. Peninsula Drive, Ponce Inlet

Inlet Harbor Restaurant, 133 Inlet Harbor Road, Ponce Inlet.

Friends of the Marine Science Center, a group of citizens who support the Marine Science Center with fundraising and volunteering, will co-host the event. For more information about Turtle Day, please call the Marine Science Center at (386)304-5545 or go to: http://marinesciencecenter.com/turtleday10.htm.