Sea Turtle Release Off Juno Beach Wednesday (6/19/19) Morning
Who: Loggerhead Marinelife Center
When*: Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at 10:30 a.m.; pre-release procedures begin at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Loggerhead Marinelife Center (14200 US Highway One, Juno Beach)
What: LMC will release Bovenizer the sea turtle from its facility off Juno Beach.
Bovenizer is an adult male loggerhead patient who was found in the intake canal of FPL’s St. Lucie site. Because the turtle was underweight and had a very soft plastron (could see the heart beating through it), the turtle was brought to the Sea Turtle Hospital at Loggerhead Marinelife Center for diagnosis and treatment. Initial blood work and radiographs revealed little, but ultrasound of the heart and major vessels suggested the presence of endarteritis, an inflammation of the major vessels, probably caused by parasites in the blood known as spirorchiids. Additional testing confirmed the diagnosis, and Bovenizer received treatment. This is a condition that is generally diagnosed post-mortem (after death).
Bovenizer the sea turtle will be prepared for release from LMC starting at 10:00 a.m. LMC docents will convey the history of the turtles’ journey and final preparations to visitors, with a procession to the beach for the release to follow. We recommend arriving early for parking and to find a good spot on the beach.
Members of the media interested in covering the release should contact Carla B. Mroz, public relations and communications manager, at cmroz@marinelife.org or 561-627-8280, ext. 124, to request a media pass.
Local staff will be available for media interviews at their discretion.
*Weather may impact the scheduling of this release. Please check marinelife.org and LMC’s social media channels for updates. Protect yourself from the sun and bring a hat, reusable water bottle, shades and sunscreen.
##
About Loggerhead Marinelife Center:
Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) is a nonprofit sea turtle research, rehabilitation and educational institution that promotes conservation of ocean ecosystems with a focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. The Center features an on-site hospital, research laboratory, educational exhibits and aquariums, and also operates the Juno Beach Pier, which hosts world-class angling and sightseeing. Situated on one of the world’s most important sea turtle nesting beaches, Loggerhead Marinelife Center is open daily and hosts over 350,000 guests free-of-charge each year. The Center’s conservation team works with 90 local and international organizations across six continents to form partnerships and share conservation initiatives and best practices that are core to its mission of ocean conservation. The Center is expanding and has launched its Waves of Progress capital expansion campaign, designed to accelerate and amplify LMC’s conservation and education impact. When complete, the facility will offer one of the world’s most advanced and unique experiences for guests and scientific partners. For more information, visit marinelife.org or call (561) 627-8280.