![]() ![]() While the world of humanity shuddered in disbelief, the world of the sea turtle remained oblivious. The “Friends” helped the Nature Center thrive through recessions, hurricanes, and more, but the greatest challenge of all would not arrive until the world-shaking month of March 2020.Ī global pandemic created unprecedented challenges for the center, as CDC-recommended closings eliminated the regular influx of visitors and door donations. The Friends of Gumbo Limbo were proud to step in and rally donors and financial support to ensure the Nature Center could weather any storm to amplify the mission of sea turtle rehabilitation. It sounds crazy, but that was the challenge we faced with each injured or sick sea turtle accepted. Imagine managing a hotel with a consistent $0/night rate. Imagine running a hospital whose patients will never be capable of paying a cent for your services. While the mission of coastal preservation was the focus of the Nature Center, the Friends saw a major opportunity to address the steadily increasing amount of sick and injured sea turtles in our area. In 2010, a new mission began to take shape. In its infancy, Friends of Gumbo Limbo served as a silent background partner for the Nature Center- and with the precious coastal hammock, this support was desperately necessary. ![]() A group of key advocates banded together to form Friends of Gumbo Limbo, a 501(c)(3) conservation organization dedicated to support the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. The Gumbo Limbo Nature Center was founded in 1984, and our original mission as the Friends of Gumbo Limbo was born. Whatever your connection with Gumbo Limbo, we wanted to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit more about all the incredible parties that join together to preserve our coasts, and where Gumbo Limbo Coastal Steward organization fits within the greater coastal conservation picture. Maybe you’re a recent transplant who found inspiration in our little sea turtle rehabilitation community. Perhaps you gained a love of the coasts as a child from field trips to the nature center. ![]() it never goes away, it just breaks down to smaller pieces.You may have passed by the complex of buildings down A1A a hundred times. Every piece of plastic that’s ever been made is still out there. “Not just recycling, but eliminating plastic out of daily use. “We have to reduce plastic use as much as possible,” she said. Mirowski says the problem won’t end until people stop buying plastics and disposing of them improperly. The important thing is getting them hydrated to get their appetite back.” “Then we hope they’ll pass the plastic naturally. “We give them a small amount of fluids everyday to get them hydrated,” Mirowski said. As a result, they don’t eat or receive the proper nutrition they need to survive.īy the time the turtles are found and dropped off at the center, they’re weak and emaciated. Having plastic in their bellies gives turtles the feeling that they’re full, Mirowski said. ” All the microplastics stick to the seaweed, and it looks like food to the baby turtles.” “The issue is that with all the plastic in the oceans, that’s where the plastic sticks,” Mirowski said. When the babies first hatch, they make their way towards mats of floating seaweed called sargassum, where they live for their first few years. Washbacks are turtles that have made it to the ocean and the Gulf Stream for a few weeks before being washed back ashore. Every single one of those turtles had ingested plastic. Microplastics found in gut of every sea turtle in new studyĪccording to Mirowski, dozens of washbacks dropped off at the center have already died since washback season started. Plastic was found in the gut of every single turtle examined in a new study spanning the Atlantic, Pacific and the Mediterranean. ![]()
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