Report: Sea turtle center about to lose medical staff

Hospital is losing its veterenarians; water-quality issues prevail

Problems continue to plague the popular Loggerhead Marinelife Center in South Florida, with reports that its entire medical staff will be gone by May.

As water-quality issues remain a concern for the Juno Beach rehabilitation center and attraction, the center once again has no sea turtles on site, according to a report from WPTV. The center has been a working hospital that has taken in all species of sea turtles for more than 30 years.

WPTV reports that all members of the center’s veterinary hospital section have either left or given notice. Last week there were only four sea turtles utilizing 26 rehab pools, but now there are none.

“At this time, we do not have any sea turtle patients in our hospital,” a notice on the center’s website reads. “We’re incredibly proud that our Hospital team cared for 83 sea turtles (plus 704 hatchlings!) in 2021.

“We’re eagerly standing by to rescue and respond to the next sea turtles requiring care, and putting the final touches on our stunning new outdoor sea turtle hospital, which will open soon.”

One of the vet techs from the center told WPTV that water-quality issues such as fluctuating salinity have continued to plague the center. One of the four turtles was released back into the Atlantic Ocean, while the other three were relocated to sea turtle rehab facilities in Boca Raton and Clearwater, the station reported.

The Florida Fish and

Wildlife Conservation Commission told the station that no further sea turtles can be taken in by Loggerhead until its water-quality issues, and now veterinary staffing issues, are addressed.

With more than 300,000 annual visitors, it’s among one of the most popular destinations in Palm Beach County. Construction to expand the center has been ongoing for a couple of years, the goal being a larger sea turtle hospital with additional tanks and expanded space for exhibits, guest lecturers and research laboratories.

The center stated on its website that efforts will continue on sea turtle research, conservation and education outreach as the nesting season approaches.

The attraction remains open, with daily programs and tours despite no on-site patients. Admission is free, but a suggested $5 per-visitor donation is encouraged.