Celebrate Turtle Day April 17; Over 15,000 reptiles received at MSC since opening in 2002

Celebrate Turtle Day April 17; Release of sub-adult loggerhead anticipation
(April 13, 2010)

What:
Turtle Day at the Volusia County Marine Science Center (MSC), and beachside sea turtle and seabird releases.

When:
10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday, April 17; animal releases at 3 p.m.

Where:
100 Lighthouse Drive, Ponce Inlet; animal releases beachside at Winter Haven Park, 4589 S. Atlantic
Avenue, Ponce Inlet

Parking:
Main Parking is at Lighthouse Point Park

Offsite parking areas:
7/11 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

Why:
Turtle Day is a celebration of bird and turtle rehabilitation in Volusia County. As of March 2010, the MSC received 622 juvenile to adult size sea turtles, 13,971 hatchlings and washbacks, and 738 miscellaneous reptiles (gopher tortoises, freshwater turtles and a snake), bringing total number of reptiles received by the Marine Science Center to 15,331 since it opened in 2002.

Several gulls and pelicans are scheduled to be released prior to the turtle release, too. 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.

For more information about Turtle Day, please call the Marine Science Center at (386)304-5545.