Visit the New Sea Turtle Rescue Center at the SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium

SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium is pleased to announce Sea Turtle Rescue Center, a new interactive rehabilitation experience opening Saturday, May 5. 

The new permanent exhibit lets guests of all ages learn about the threats turtles face in the wild and experience first-hand the process of successfully rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing sea turtles.  Upon entry, guests will become a bonafide turtle rescuer as they collect a mock turtle from the beach, name and weigh their patient, then begin a virtual rehabilitation journey.  After using an x-ray machine to diagnose and remedy injuries, guests nurse their turtle back to health at the feeding and hydration station then release them back into the wild.

Check out this quick video for a sneak peek on the SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium Facebook page:

In addition to observing non-releasable sea turtles in a display tank, guests can also view aquarists through a glass window working with real injured patients in the aquarium’s new rehabilitation facility and hospital.  The Grapevine aquarium is the first SEA LIFE in the U.S. to be permitted to rehabilitate sick and injured sea turtles and release them back into the wild through partnerships with Animal Rehabilitation Keep(ARK), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other Texas coast sea turtle hospitals. 

“Our new interactive rehabilitation exhibit profiles real-life endangered sea turtle rescues that our dedicated SEA LIFE team have been involved in.  Since our opening, we’ve rescued seven non-releasable sea turtles.  With our new permit and hospital, in addition to rescue, we can now care for sick or injured turtles until they’re well enough for release back into the wild,” said Karen Rifenbury, Curator, SEA LIFE Grapevine. “Visitors will be able to learn about new patients and the medical team working that day through our patients-in-residence display board.”

“Along the Texas coast, many turtles are found injured or sick each year. There are only five sea turtle rehabilitation facilities, so every facility has to work very hard. ARK is very excited to welcome SEA LIFE Grapevine to sea turtle rehabilitation and look forward to continuing our collaboration to save sea turtles. With the addition of their rehabilitation center, each sea turtle will be given even more attention while in rehab,” said Alicia Walker, Program Coordinator, ARK.

“Already a tremendous partner in sea turtle conservation, SEA LIFE Grapevine is now stepping up to do even more.  Recent freezing temperatures in South Texas filled our coastal rehabilitation centers to capacity with cold-stunned sea turtles.  It is reassuring to know they are there to help if needed next time,” said Mary Kay Skoruppa, Texas Coastal Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Coinciding with the opening of Sea Turtle Rescue Center, the aquarium welcomed a non-releasable green sea turtle named Thalassia.  “Sea Turtle Rescue Center also houses non-releasable sea turtles creating a turtle sanctuary not found anywhere else in DFW. Efforts like these are what make SEA LIFE Grapevine so much more than an average mall aquarium,” said Kelly Schwartz, General Manager, SEA LIFE Grapevine.

SEA LIFE Grapevine is located at 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway, Grapevine, Texas 76051.  For more information visit www.visitsealife.com/grapevine or call 469-444-3050.

About SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium:

SEA LIFE Grapevine transports you into the amazing underwater world.  Prepare for astonishingly close views of everything from humble starfish and seahorses to graceful rays and powerful sharks.  With an amazing 360° ocean tunnel, 30 display tanks and thousands of sea creatures the aquarium is the perfect stop for family fun.  To get any closer you would have to get wet!  Admission is $20.95 for adults, $16.95 for children ages 3 to 12.  For more information visit www.visitsealife.com/grapevine.  SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium is located at 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway, Grapevine, TX 76051. Phone: 469-444-3050. Follow us on Facebook: @sealifegrapevine Twitter: @sealifegrpevine and Instagram: @sealifenorthamerica.