Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center

 

Our Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility was opened on January 1, 2010.  For the past two decades, our turtle conservation program has rescued sick and injured sea turtles throughout south Palm Beach County.  However, we have always sent turtles to other facilities to be treated.   After being licensed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on January 1st, a cold snap hit Florida stranding nearly 5000 endangered green sea turtles.  Gumbo Limbo treated and released more than 177 of those turtles.

In addition to treating these turtles for cold stun, 35 of those turtles also had surgery to remove noncancerous tumors from their eyes and flippers. These tumors are caused by a disease called fibropapilloma. Fibropapilloma is thought to have a strong correlation to polluted waters.

Please note:  We have temporarily closed our rehab facility to update and add a new filtration system to provide the best healing environment possible for our patients. We hope to be back open and treating turtles again in soon! But you can see hatchling sea turtles in the FAU Gallery and don’t forget to check out our new sea turtle exhibit!