Brevard Zoo To Open Sea Turtle Treatment Faciity
By Space Coast Daily // April 10, 2013
Will Allow For Local Treatment
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – There was a big announcement at the Sea Turtle Preservation Society April membership meeting.
The Brevard Zoo and the Sea Turtle Preservation Society are now partners in an effort to develop a sea turtle medical facility adjacent to the zoo’s new state-of–the-art veterinary facility that was opened in March 2012.
The Brevard Zoo was awarded a grant by the Sea Turtle Tag Grant Program valued at close to $40,000 for 2013-2014 grant cycle to begin construction of the facility.
This is reported to be one of the largest grants awarded through this program because the award committee realized the significant need for such a facility.
For the past two years Roger Pszonowsky, Sea Turtle Preservation Society chair, led a small committee consisting of BJ Varuska and Dave Cheney. Roger is the FWC primary permit holder for Stranding and Salvage for the society and BJ and Dave also are on the permit.
Currently, when the Sea Turtle Preservation Society rescues a sick or injured sea turtle, they must transport the turtle to one of several rehabilitation/medical facilities with the closest being more than an hour away and if the turtle has Fibropapilloma, the trip is two to three hours.
This committee has been working on this project for two years which is now culminating in the anticipated opening of the new facility.
The society’s primary role will be to provide volunteers to assist with the day-to-day operational activities along with the rescue and release of turtles in Brevard County.
It also will be providing financial support for the treatment facility using funds from its annual Turtle Krawl race.
The Sea Turtle Preservation Society reaches thousands of people each year through public presentations, exhibits at area events, and by turtle watches during the sea turtle nesting season. The society’s goal is to help maintain the current sea turtle population and to prevent a potentially irreversible decline in that population.
