Whitney Laboratory opens the first sea turtle hospital in Northeast Florida

The Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Laboratory held a grand opening event Saturday, Oct. 24, at 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd., St. Augustine.

By Anastasia Pagello
| 12:42 p.m. October 24, 2015

Brian, Zion, Coco and Izaiah Scrone check out the new sea turtle habitats at the Whitney Laboratory sea turtle hospital. Photos by Anastasia Pagello

Bella Borstelmann, age 1, discovers the sea turtle hospital with her family.

Cassius Winch feeds shrimp to native saltwater Florida fish.

Sea Turtle Hospital main sponsor Nancy Condron cuts the ribbon signifying the opening of the hospital with Hospital Coordinator Catherine Eastman.

Justin and Derek Lepri in front of an 1,100 gallon sea turtle habitat.

Veterinary Technician Steven Nelson shows Addie, Braden and Corinne Isenbarger a tortoise that is being rehabilitated at the hospital.

Hope Mallard and Hailey Mattman

Mark Grosso, age 2, plays sea turtle corn-hole.

Troupe Jones dresses as a trash bag monster to educate Sea Turtle Hospital visitors the negative effects litter can have on sea turtles in the ocean.

John Perkner, Mark Martindale and Jessica Long

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Whitney Laboratory opened the first and only sea turtle hospital in Northeast Florida Saturday, Oct. 24. Over 600 guests were given a tour of the hospital and witnessed the cutting of the ribbon ceremony to signify the grand opening of the facility. The hospital is a nonprofit that will provide treatment for sick and injured sea turtles. A variety of treatments will be conducted for animals with Fibropapillomatosis (the FP Virus), plastic ingestion, debilitation, boat strike victims, cold stunning and fishing line entanglement. The hospital hopes to eventually release each rehabilitated sea turtle back into their natural habitat.

The small town of Marineland proved to be the ideal location for the new hospital. The facility is within walking distance of both the ocean and the intercostal. Previously volunteers were forced to transport injured sea turtles 200 miles to the nearest sea turtle hospital.

The facility has four habitats with 1,100 gallons of water each. All of the tanks have the option to be self-contained with individual filtration systems or can utilize the facilities sea water system. Each habitat is able to house up to four sea turtles.

Guests had the privilege to view the Rehabilitation Habitats as well as the facilities Veterinary Treatment Room and the food preparation area. The construction of the hospital took two years to complete and is privately funded. The hospital received a State License Plate Grant from the Sea Turtle Conservancy which went to funding the facilities much needed surgical equipment.

“The creating of the hospital has been a collaborative effort between private donors and the Whitney Laboratory,” Director Catherine Eastman said. “We all recognized the need for the facility in this area. Everything aligned at the right time and we made it happen.”

To show support for the hospital’s continued conservation efforts visit whitney.ufl.edu and click support.

The Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Laboratory is now open for scheduled tours for school groups and similar organizations. Call 904-461-4000 for more information.