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.
* All gifts are tax deductible.
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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C.A.R.E. FAQs
Community Partners
Become a Community Partner
Happy St. Patrick's Day from the CARE Center staff! ... See MoreSee Less
We have added a few new items to our Amazon wish list! If you are looking for a way to help the C.A.R.E. Center and give back to the local sea turtles, please check out our Amazon wishlist at www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/R24HCYXZ9CM2?ref_=abls_nvfly_yl
We added many items to our wish list that can be used as enrichment for our sea turtle patients. If you're ever curious about what an item may be used for, you may reach out to us or check to see if there is a note listed with the item.
Thank you for your continued support!
Photo Credit: @John starrett ... See MoreSee Less
We are so excited to welcome visitors from around the world this spring break season! Here are four things to keep in mind when visiting the beach for spring break or summer vacation:
1. Leave only your footprints. Trash not only harms our sea turtles but all marine and terrestrial life. Make sure you trash gets properly disposed.
2. Knock over those sand castles and fill in your holes at the end of your day! During nesting season these can be major deterrents for sea turtles. If a mamma sea turtle encounters either of these it could lead to a stranding or even not laying her eggs.
3. No white lights on the beach- instead opt for wildlife friendly lighting. This will ensure that our sea turtles have a dark place to nest and its great practice for all species!
4. Have fun and enjoy spending time on our beautiful Gulf Coast Beaches!
Tell us how you practice protecting our oceans when you visit the beach. ... See MoreSee Less