C.A.R.E.

Conserve. Act. Rehabilitate. Educate.

The Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center acts as a beacon for coastal conservation through marine animal rescue and rehabilitation, encouraging awareness with public education and opportunities for active participation.

Conserve

Ensure the future of marine animals and their habitats

Act

Play an active role in marine conservation

Rehabilitate

Support marine animal rescue, recovery, and release

Educate

Inspire awareness for marine conservation issues

Our History

Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park has been active in marine animal rescue and rehabilitation for many years. The C.A.R.E. Center was developed in 2015 as a non-profit to facilitate and further our continued coastal conservation efforts. The program has helped to rehabilitate and release various species of sea turtles found in the Gulf Coast, from the Loggerhead, Green, Kemp’s ridley, to the Leatherback. Over the years hundreds of sea turtles have been rehabilitated and released back into the wild by the Gulfarium.

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an underwater view of an adult turtle swimming

a close-up of an adult turtle, focused on its face

someone guiding an adult turtle through the water

CARE worker holding a baby turtle in her hands

Rehabilitation

When a sea turtle patient arrives, it is evaluated by animal care and veterinary staff using guidelines from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. These guidelines give our staff the necessary information needed to evaluate a method for rehabilitation, recovery, and release.

Although every effort is made to release the turtle back to the ocean, occasionally a sea turtle is deemed non-releasable due to medical or physical limitations. These turtles are given a permanent home and full-time care here at the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center

Release

The Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center promotes rehabilitation and release of all stranded sea turtle species. After the appropriate medical attention and care is provided, as deemed by a veterinarian, the sea turtle is release back into the ocean at a location determined by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Check out our Featured News page to read some of our release stories.

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Gulfarium CARE Center

5 months ago

Meet the volunteers! Today we would like to Introduce DiAnne! DiAnne joined our team at the end of January this year after seeing we were in need of some volunteers! DiAnne is a retired educator for K - 12! DiAnne loves to combine her passion for education and marine life by teaching our next generations on how to care for our blue planet! DiAnne is no stranger to the turtle world, she has been a part of the South Walton Turtle Watch group doing morning nesting surveys! She joined the CARE team in hopes to expand her knowledge of sea turtles and get a hands-on experience in their conservation. ... See MoreSee Less

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Gulfarium CARE Center

5 months ago

Are you interested in a career in animal care? Internships are the best ways to get experience in this field and find out if it's the right job for you! We currently offer three different types of internships at the Gulfarium and Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center. For more information on our internship programs, visit us online at www.gulfarium.com/internships ... See MoreSee Less

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Gulfarium CARE Center

5 months ago

Hello Friday! Have a turtley awesome weekend!
#gulfarium #seaturtle #carecenter ... See MoreSee Less

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C.A.R.E. FAQs

What can I do to ensure a clear path to the ocean for hatchlings?BlueIvoryCreative2023-03-15T17:51:55-05:00

What can I do to ensure a clear path to the ocean for hatchlings?

Remove all beach chairs, umbrellas, and other items at the end of the day to avoid obstruction during sea turtle nesting season. Flatten sand castles and fill in holes at the end of your beach visit to create a safe path for nesting females and sea turtle hatchlings.

Why do I have to turn off beach lights at night?BlueIvoryCreative2023-03-15T17:51:55-05:00

Why do I have to turn off beach lights at night?

Lighting pollution is a serious threat to many types of wildlife, particularly nesting sea turtles and hatchlings. Nesting females use the moonlight to direct themselves when returning to the ocean and when hatchlings burst from the nest, they scramble for the brightest horizon, typically the moon glimmering off the water. Artificial lights can lead the turtles away from the safety of the water. Between May through October, from dusk until dawn, turn all exterior lights visible from the beach off from dusk to dawn and avoid flashlights, fireworks, and bonfires on the beach. If you must use a flashlight, apply a red filter or covering to make it sea turtle safe.

How close can I get if I encounter a sea turtle?BlueIvoryCreative2023-03-15T17:51:55-05:00

How close can I get if I encounter a sea turtle?

Approaching within 50 yards of a sea turtle is illegal. Please observe from a distance. Do not feed, or attempt to feed, any marine turtles. If you encounter a sea turtle while you are in a water vehicle, please slow down and operate at a no-wake speed.

How close can I get to a sea turtle nest?BlueIvoryCreative2023-03-15T17:51:55-05:00

How close can I get to a sea turtle nest?

Approaching within 50 yards of a sea turtle nest is illegal. Please observe from a distance.

What do I do if I find a stranded animal?BlueIvoryCreative2023-03-15T17:51:55-05:00

What do I do if I find a stranded animal?

If the animal appears to be injured or dead, call to notify the appropriate authorities. To report a stranded animal in Alabama, call 1-(866)-SEA-TURT (1-866-732-8878), and in Florida, call 1-888-404-FWCC (1-888-404-3922). Do not touch the animal, remove it from the beach, or attempt to push it back into the water as this can cause the animal to re-strand and die. Instead, monitor the animal from a safe distance. While waiting for authorities to arrive, note the position of the animal and monitor its breathing.