The warm and inviting sands along Palm Beach County, Florida beaches draw in these smart species. This has led to the establishment of the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, founded by long-time Juno Beach resident, Eleanor Fletcher, over 25 years ago. The Center is located at 14200 US Highway 1 in Juno Beach, Florida.
The Marinelife Center is a non-profit organization with a vision to promote conservation of Florida’s coastal ecosystems through education, research and rehabilitation with a special focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. Through the dedicated efforts of this caring organization, they spread the word to inquisitive visitors of all ages longing to learn more about these creatures of the ocean. A day at the Center can keep you occupied for hours. There is an interactive exhibit hall with more than 40 hands-on displays, saltwater aquariums with teeming marine life and weekly feedings, life-size replica prehistoric Archelon from millions of years ago, fun for the kids with a weekly story-time, guided tours with the educational staff and a gift shop filled with unique gifts.
The sea turtles that now call Loggerhead Marinelife Center their temporary home are those that are sick or injured and only through constant care will their health be restored so that they may be set free to roam the ocean in a more familiar habitat. Each year an average of 50-60 juvenile through adult turtles and over 1,000 hatchlings are cared for. They are carefully monitored, given proper treatment and fed. There is a state-of-the-art full service veterinary hospital and research lab on site. Visitors can meet all the patients like Captain Jack, Atwell, Smitty, Spud and Oz and everything from juvenile greens to loggerheads. Through their website, you can track your favorite turtle and even adopt your very own sea turtle. Jack Lighton is the current President and CEO of the Center and carries that passion for ocean conservation to all the industrious members of his staff.
Throughout the year, events are held to create awareness and raise much needed funding. August was a big month for the Loggerhead Marinelife Center. For the second year, ‘Art Arribada’ came to The Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, to educate and entertain turtle lovers in Palm Beach County. The mall partnered with PNC Bank in collaboration with the Center for a lineup of events which raised funds for the center and crucial environmental programs from August 19th through September 2, 2013. Giant sea turtle sculptures were on display, exquisitely created of fiberglass and intricately painted by students in seven high schools throughout the local community. Visitors to The Gardens Mall had the opportunity to vote for their favorite sculpture. Teams of talented high school students were given a specified time frame to transform unpainted fiberglass sea turtle sculptures (36” high x 30” long x 18” deep) into wonders of art. On August 24th, the mall held Marinelife Day. Kids with a zeal for learning visited the mall to take part in this science-oriented day. Presentations were given on turtles and marine life in a fun yet educational manner. Different interactive stations were set up based on research, rehabilitation, education and conservation themes. Even the lovable mascot known as Fletch was on hand to take photos with the children. This all led up to the Cocktail Party and auction held on August 29th at which time the top 3 schools with the most votes were awarded cash prizes of $1500 for first prize, $1000 for second prize and $500 for the schools’ art departments. There was also a ‘Best In Show’ sculpture. Tickets were sold for this private event and local radio personalities and Loggerhead Marinelife Center President, Jack Lighton, was also on hand. Each turtle sculpture was auctioned off during the course of the evening with all proceeds benefitting the Center. Close to $5,000 was raised from the auction. These lucky turtles were assured of a final nesting place.
Not only is Loggerhead Marinelife Center doing countless good deeds and beneficial work on behalf of turtles and marine life, but they are also part of a conscious effort to ‘go green’. The Center is the first non-profit facility and the second commercial building in the state of Florida to achieve the certification of a FLORIDA GREEN COMMERCIAL building. In addition to focusing on turtles, the Center conducts eco-tours, fish feeding sessions, a fish I.D. program, hammock hikes, a jellyfish journey, turtle walks, a jr. veterinary learning lab and much more.
For all you turtle lovers, here are some interesting facts about the various types of turtles that visit the shores of South Florida:
Leatherback
■ World Conservation Union (IUCN) status – Critically Endangered
■ Largest and deepest diving of the sea turtles
■ Named for smooth, rubbery shell
■ Feeds on jellyfish
■ Weighs 700-1500 pounds and measures 4 to 8 feet in length
■ Nests in Florida from March through July
Loggerhead
■ World Conservation Union (IUCN) status – Endangered
■ Most common sea turtle in Florida
■ Named for its large head
■ Feeds on crabs, mollusks, encrusting animals attached to reefs and rocks
■ Weighs 200 to 350 pounds and measures about 3 feet in length
■ Nests in Florida from April through September
Green
■ World Conservation Union (IUCN) status – Endangered
■ Named for greenish color of body fat
■ Feeds on seagrass and seaweed
■ Adult females weigh 300 pounds and are 3-4 feet in length
■ Nests in Florida from May through September
Hawksbill
■ World Conservation Union (IUCN) status – Critically Endangered
■ Has a beautiful shell, which is used for jewelry causing this turtle to be listed internationally as critically endangered
■ Feeds on sponges
■ Occasional nests are found in Palm Beach County each year
Kemp’s Ridley
■ World Conservation Union (IUCN) status – Critically Endangered
■ Smallest of the sea turtles
■ Nesting is mainly restricted to a 20-mile stretch of beach in western Gulf of Mexico
■ Nesting often occurs in large aggregations during the daylight
■ Feeds on blue crabs, clams, mussels, fish and jellyfish
■ Adult weighs 85-100 pounds and measures 24-30 inches in length
Visit www.marinelife.org to learn more about the Center and all the great work it does for our marine community and the turtle in particular. Become a volunteer, adopt your very own turtle or donate funds to help conserve and preserve our marine world.
