The Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island, Georgia

Eric bought a Groupon for the

Georgia Sea Turtle Center.

The bricks were laid to create

a Sea Turtle design.

Five of the world's seven species  of sea turtles migrate, forage or nest on Georgia's coastal beaches. All the Sea Turtles studied here are listed on the as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.  Georgia Sea Turtle Center is one of the few "Turtle Hospitals" that treats turtles from the Atlantic Coast.

This van is used to transport

orphaned, sick & injured

 Sea Turtles.

Visitors can Adopt a Sea Turtle.  Donors are assigned a Sea Turtle that is rehabilitating and get a photo of their Sea Turtle.  Donors get updates on the progress of their adoptee.   There's just one catch....  Adopters can't take the Sea Turtle home with them.

Sea Turtles "swim" above us

as we read the displays.

Sea Turtle nests and later, selected Sea Turtles are monitored.  Scientists are learning a lot about Sea Turtle migration, foraging and nesting patterns.

The Education Area...

... doubles as seating for the

Center's educational film.

The Surgical Suite for

Sea Turtle patients.

Honey is a natural antibiotic

& healing substance often

applied at the end of surgery.

Diamond Back Terrapin Hatchlings

were found after their mothers

were hit by cars on the road.

Each one is numbered for identification

& tracking its development.

They are being raised here at

Georgia Sea Turtle Center.

The hatchlings are weighed

each week.

The odds are against a newly hatched Sea Turtle growing to adulthood.  After they emerge from nests on the shore, tiny hatchlings are prey for crabs, seabirds and other predators.  After they reach the water, the hatchlings aren't safe.  While in range of a coastline, the newly hatched, and swimming turtles continue to be at risk from seabirds. Reaching the Gulf Stream assures the turtles will migrate to New England.  Parasites, disease and trash continue as threats to the Sea Turtles.  Turtles are still taken as trophies and for their meat in the Caribbean and Grand Caymane Islands.  

Terence Sea Turtle Sculpture

was created with trash found

on Georgia's coastal beaches.

Terence is cute, but deadly.

We visited the Bill Donohue

Rehabilitation Pavilion.

Patients range from hatchlings

to juveniles.

This tank has a mirror hanging

above it so visitors can get

views of the Sea Turtles.

This is Diego.

He is among the turtles recovering
from cold stunning in New England.

Cold stunned turtles are thin and lethargic after being caught in water 40 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Infections are common while Sea Turtles are in this type of peril. At the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Diego's body temperature is gradually raised.  Infections are treated with antibiotics.

I just found an article on cold stunned turtles in the Times Union.  Some were sent to New Orleans for rehabilitation.  They have recovered and are being released back into the wild.

Sea Turtles are being

fed lettuce for lunch.

Neptune has a strange patch on 

on posterior of his shell.

 He was found with an injury to his shell that was covered in algae and barnacles.  Neptune wasn't using his fins effectively.  A CT Scan shows displaced/fractured vertebrae affecting his flippers and GI tract.  He also has Fibropapillomatosis (FP),  a form of herpes that is contagious among Sea Turtles that causes tumors.  Fortunately, Napoleon hadn't yet developed any tumors.  The patch covers Napoleon's shell injury as it heals.  His water filtration system is segregated from fellow patients.  Because Napoleon can't be returned to the wild, he is waiting for a home at a zoo or aquarium.

Your eyes aren't playing tricks

on you.

Mahi is missing her front right

flipper.

Mahi was found with monofilament wrapped around the right front flipper that went down to the bone  and monofilament hanging from attached to her stomach and hanging out her mouth.  The flipper was amputated and honey was used to help Mahi heal.  She's received glucose to help her stabilize and antibiotics to fight infection.

Diego, Neptune and Mahi are just a few of the patients here.  They are here because nature trapped them in cold water, or injury, infection or tangling in trash and becoming injured.







The Gift shop has lots of
souvenir tee shirts & hats.

Sea Turtle souvenirs

Plush Sea Turtles &
jewelry











I learned a lot during my visit to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.  When possible, I'll be picking up trash left behind by others.  It's a small thing to do, but it can help all wildlife.