Clearwater Marine Aquarium Opens Brand New Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Area
CMA volunteers move sea turtles into their brand new rehabilitation area. CLEARWATER - Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) just opened a brand new sea turtle rehabilitation area. The area, which houses nine turtle pools, can holdup to 20 sea turtles. So far, CMA has moved seven turtles to the new quarters. The additional space will allow CMA to almost triple its current capacity for turtles, and makes the aquarium one of the largest sea turtle rehabilitation facilities in Florida. CMA turtle staff and volunteers are currently rehabilitating 22 sea turtles. CMA staff and volunteers are once again monitoring Pinellas County beaches daily for sea turtle nests. During the night, from May through September, the 350-pound female sea turtles come ashore to deposit their eggs. This year alone, CMA staff and volunteers treated about 120 sea turtles with "cold stun." This condition happens when the temperature of the water drops below 50 degrees for a sustained amount of time, and their metabolic rate drops below maintenance levels, and they begin to stun. CMA staff has already released 77 of them. Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a Florida non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, dedicated to marine life rescue, rehabilitation, release, and environmental education. CMA is home to dolphins, sea turtles, river otters, stingrays, nurse sharks, and more. Winter the dolphin's story of survival and inspiration has touched millions of people around the world. A movie about her life story is in the works with Warner Bros.-based Alcon Entertainment. Her documentary, "Winter: The Dolphin that Could" is available at www.SeeWinter.com. The film takes viewers on an extraordinary journey through her rescue, fight to stay alive and extensive rehabilitation. Scholastic published Winter's Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again in October 2009.
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