Sea Turtle Inc staff prepares for cold stuns by reviewing weather predictive analytics and ensuring they have the necessary gear and emergency contacts on standby. (Courtesy photo/Sea Turtle Inc)
By ARABELLA SERRATA
Special to the PRESS
On Dec. 31, Sea Turtle Inc. [STI] released three more turtles from their care and took time to reflect on the
year. The patients were Mono, Torgi and Wonders. The release happened on the Gulf of Mexico, as opposed
to the usual bayside release, due to weather.
According to Kacey Stephens, an Animal Care Specialist at STI, Wonders washed ashore on a beach
access for unknown reasons. Mono was stranded at another access under similar circumstances. Torgi
washed up near the jetties, near Boca Chica. He had Caryospora, a parasite sea turtles get when they eat
each other’s feces. According to STI officials, these turtles, now cleared of their ailments, were ready to
return to the wild.
Anai Garcia, bilingual Education Specialist at STI, presented a live stream of the release to viewers online
and asked various members of the STI staff to reflect on moments throughout 2024. Hanna Murray, an
Education Specialist at STI, talked about nesting and how the extended STI community came together to
overcome the challenges during the nesting season.
Taylor Dunham, supervisor of Early Childhood Education, said she enjoyed witnessing the temporary
hospital and the large patient intake from earlier in the year, surpassing their record of 95 patients. Dunham
also commented that the nesting season was impactful.
Wendy Knight, CEO of STI spoke about the construction of the enclosed Sea Turtle Hospital.
“We are at the tail end of a massive, almost two-year-long construction project,” said Knight. The hospital
is said to be the largest of its kind, standing at 15,000 square feet.
“We are just so close to being finished,” said Knight.
The hospital will enable STI to respond to “almost anything” and allow them to take in transfer patients
from across the nation. Knight said supporters of STI can expect to hear news “in the coming weeks,” and
that the grand opening will happen “before the first weekend of March.”
Alongside the exciting release was the cold stun on the horizon.
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