The Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton has closed, the nonprofit operating the turtle hospital announced June 13.
The Coastal Stewards said in a news release the center was closing the center for financial reasons.
“Like many environmental nonprofits, The Coastal Stewards has faced increasing difficulty securing consistent and sustainable funding,” Shivani Gupta, a Coastal Stewards trustee, said in a prepared statement.
“This difficult decision allows us to reallocate resources and focus on our long-standing commitment to marine conservation education and empowering the next generation of ocean advocates.”
The gift shop at the center also has been closed, Coastal Stewards said.
The 13 sea turtle patients currently being treated at Gumbo Limbo are receiving veterinary care and will be transferred to other licensed sea turtle rehabilitation facilities when they become available, the nonprofit said, adding that it is working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission during this process.
The three resident sea turtles in tanks at the Gumbo Limbo center remain on view for the public, Coastal Stewards said.
The move comes a little more than a year after the Coastal Stewards had an open house marking the reopening of the turtle rehabilitation program. It had closed while the nonprofit received FWC certification to care for the turtles.
The city of Boca Raton operates Gumbo Limbo, which is on the barrier island south of Spanish River Park. It also had run the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Program before passing its operation and management onto the Coastal Stewards in April 2023.
In a statement on its website announcing the closure of the rehab facility, the city said Gumbo Limbo “remains fully open and active. The Center will continue its conservation and education efforts, including its sea turtle nesting and hatchling programs, youth camps, community education and other popular visitor attractions.”
The city said it is “open to exploring partnerships with other qualified nonprofit organizations that may be interested in continuing sea turtle rehabilitation on-site and will determine the best use of the gift shop space.”
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Sea turtle rehab center closes at Gumbo Limbo; nonprofit cites struggle to find funding
Reporting by Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
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