Sea Turtle, Inc. — USA (2019)

AZA-SAFE Grant Recipient

Sea Turtle, Inc. is a nonprofit sea turtle hospital in south Texas that rescues and rehabilitates sick and injured sea turtles for release back into the wild, educates the public, and assists with conservation efforts for marine turtles. Kemp’s ridley conservation is a priority during nesting season, which coincides with peak tourist visitation on south Texas beaches that are open to vehicular access and are also home to the only nesting ground for this critically endangered species. Public awareness about the presence of sea turtle activity during the nesting season is critical to effectively protect nesting and hatching turtles. Using a 2019 SWOT Grant, Sea Turtle, Inc. will place bilingual signs at vehicular beach access points to prevent sea turtle fatalities and increase nesting reports from beachgoers.

Nesting Kemp’s ridley turtle in the path of a vehicle © Sea Turtle, Inc.

Sign that © Sea Turtle, Inc. placed at sea turtle nesting beach accesses