The Marinelife Center of Juno Beach, Florida (http://www.marinelife.org,) is a small nature facility on the southeast coast of Florida, about fifteen miles north of Palm Beach. Nestled between US 1 and A1A, the Marinelife Center lies about 200 yards from the Atlantic Ocean in Palm Beach County's Loggerhead Park. It was started years ago by "the turtle lady" (aren't a lot of good things started by "crazy" old ladies?) to teach area children about sea turtles, and their importance to the ecosystem of Palm Beach County- one of Earth's finest sea turtle nesting beaches.
The primary purpose of MCJB is the rescue, research, and rehabilitation of endangered sea turtles. Admission is free; but visitors are reminded that MCJB is a non-profit organization which is run entirely by donations by the public. The obviously rich are encouraged to give their fair share. Many do. Visitors can adopt individual turtles and receive updates about their adopted animal.
Currently there are a dozen sea turtles recuperating at the Center, ranging from a 250 lb adult male Loggerhead Sea Turtle named Vito, to a tiny hatchling Hawksbill Sea Turtle weighing under 8 oz. The tanks are about 15 feet in diameter and no more than three feet deep, which allows easy access for veterinary staff. It also allows visitors to get close to the animals. So close, in fact, that when they come up to breathe, they often spray people who are standing there, and splash the crowd with their flippers. Some turtles come in with fishing hooks caught in them; others suffer from boat propeller wounds, disease, oil from boats. In the summer, the MLJB has a number of "wrong-way" hatchlings, fooled by light pollution from inland into heading away from the sea.
One turtle came in from a pet store, where the owner was trying to sell it. He faces charges of trading in endangered species, a felony. If you ever find a Sea Turtle, or any injured animal, call local law enforcement, because if you don't, you risk jail yourself.
A world-class Leatherback Sea Turtle research program is run from the MCJB. It monitors nesting activity, tags animals, and satellite tracks Earth's largest turtles. ( http://www.floridaleatherbacks.com ) Besides sea turtles, the Center also has four reef tanks with a variety of reef fish, many of which were caught by local divers. I think the Barracuda are pretty cool. There is a touch tank with invertebrates, like live Conchs and Hermit Crabs. The touch tank contents change often, with starfish, sea cucumbers, shrimp, and crabs as regular occupants.
Non-living displays include a sea shell room, which identifies all of the sea shells found on nearby Loggerhead Beach; and a "turtle stuff" room, which contains turtle shells, turtle skulls, preserved specimens, and artist's sculptures and paintings depicting the Sea Turtle's life cycle. Remember that possession of endangered species products, such as their skulls, shells, hides, feathers, etc, is a crime under the Endangered Species Act. The Marinelife Center is one of about 20 facilities in Florida permitted by the State of Florida to keep these items. For links about sea turtles, try: http://www.floridaconservation.org/psm/turtles/turtle%20links.htm or http://www.seaturtle.org )
Each summer, the Center conducts nighttime beach walks, to allow the public to view a sea turtle while she is nesting. The beach walks are held nightly from June 1 to July 31; sign-up begins May 1. There is a fee for the beach walk. Staff of the Center also give talks to local schools and civic groups on an as-asked basis. Many schools take field trips to MCJB.
Like many wild animals that are tasty, sea turtles have been pushed to the edge of existence by mankind. The Marinelife Center is trying hard to pull them back. All animals at MCJB are treated with respect. Each and every turtle at MCJB is going to be released back into the wild ocean. Loggerhead Sea Turtle "Cosmo" was released on 2/19/2003.
The Marinelife Center of Juno Beach is in the planning stages for a brand new building, which will have more room for injured turtles, have a shark tank, improved veterinary facilities, and more reef tanks. Fund raising for this is ongoing and those who wish to donate or volunteer can contact the MCJB at 561.627.8280 for more information.
If you are looking for the big-time, three-hour zoo experience, the Marinelife Center is not the place to go. But if you want help endangered species, if you want to see more sea turtles on display in one place than almost anywhere else, if you want to see sea turtles up close and personal, the Marinelife Center of Juno Beach is the only place to go.