Sea Turtle Rehab Center In Apollo Beach Welcomes 1st Patients

APOLLO BEACH, FL -- This little guy might not realize it but he made history this week as one of the first sea turtles to be cared for at The Florida Aquarium's new $4.1 million Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center in Apollo Beach.

See related story: Florida Aquarium Opens Home For Injured Turtles In Apollo Beach

He was among seven juvenile green sea turtles rescued off Volusia County on Florida's east coast after getting cold stunned. He and his fellow reptiles will be treated at the aquarium's 19,000-square-foot center featuring five rehabilitation pools including one of the state’s deepest turtle-exclusive dive pools.

"We rescue sea turtles from around Florida and beyond, but during winter months, there is a growing need for more animal care facilities to rehabilitate cold-stunned sea turtles," said Florida Aquarium President and CEO Roger Germann. "This center is opening at the right time, and The Florida Aquarium will be able to dramatically increase the number of sea turtles it cares for during the year."

Senior staff veterinarian Ari Fustukjian said the seven turtles are suffering from exposure to the cold and some may have resulting illnesses like pneumonia. He said the staff will get them warmed up, treated and fed. If all goes well, they will be released as soon as a few weeks.

The eighth turtle patient, a large crusty old loggerhead turtle, isn't quite so lucky.

"He's been out there for months in rough shape," said Fustukjian, who said the turtle suffers from chronic debilitation. "It's going to require a lot of care to bring him back."

Fustukjean said the loggerhead could be at the center for up to a year before he's deemed healthy enough to be released.

The sea turtle dive pool with a depth of 11 feet and an observation window will be used to assess buoyancy issues, swim conditioning and food trials before turtles are cleared by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to be returned to the wild.

The center also includes a state-of-the-art sea turtle surgery suite.

The Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center was funded through a public-private partnership that included $3 million from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; $690,000 from the Spurlino Foundation, a philanthropic foundation started by a south Hillsborough County family; and $400,000 from The Florida Aquarium. TECO Energy provided the property.

The Florida Aquarium's Animal Response Team, which manages sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation and release efforts, recently expanded thanks to a $250,000 grant from Florida Blue. To date, the aquarium has rescued more than 150 threatened and endangered sea turtles.

Images via Florida Aquarium

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