Conservation Corner Houston Zoo’s Sea Turtle Saving Summer

By: Jessica Reyes HoustonZoo.org

As appreciative supporters of nature and wildlife, we at Houston PetTalk want to promote education and conservation of the world’s animal population. Each month we bring you information on conservation efforts that are of special interest or have some connection to Houston through the Houston Zoo. This issue, we highlight seat turtle conservation at the zoo. Look for other upcoming conservation stories so that you too can help save a species.

This summer season, Houston Zoo is challenging the community to participate in Sea Turtle Saving Summer by reducing plastic use at home, work and when dining out or shopping. Everyone can be a wildlife champion by switching to reusable bags, water bottles and straws.

The Houston Zoo has been a champion for saving sea turtles for more than 30 years and for the first time, one of those sea turtles is highlighted in a large, multi-dimensional habitat inside the newest exhibit, Galapagos Islands. Bobbi, the sea turtle, was rescued, rehabilitated, and released back into the ocean several times before experts determined her buoyancy issues would mean she would always have trouble diving. Federal agencies deemed her unreleasable and the Houston Zoo became her forever home. Guests can see Bobbie, along with other marine animals like black-tipped reef sharks and blacknosed butterflyfish, in the Zoo’s One

Ocean aquarium.

Bobbi was brought to the Houston Zoo as part of the sea turtle rescue and release program where the Zoo’s sea turtle staff brings wild sea turtles to the clinic for healthcare. These animals usually have plastic-related injuries, some of which are entangled in fishing line that was not properly disposed of. Each year, the Zoo’s veterinary team treats and provides care for up to 100 injured or sick seat turtles. People are urged to call 1-866-TURTLE-5 if they find or accidentally catch a sea turtle and an expert will assess the turtle and provide care if needed.

Sea turtle populations in the Gulf are slowly recovering thanks to the collaborative efforts of scientists, non-profits, universities, and many dedicated volunteers including your Houston Zoo. Since 2014, Zoo staff and volunteers make monthly trips to Surfside Jetty to collect trash, recycling and fishing line. By removing these items, it ensures the debris never makes it into the water where it could become an entanglement hazard for sea turtles and other marine wildlife.

Another way your Houston Zoo is helping save sea turtles is by keeping their habitat, the ocean, clean. Single-use plastic items are typically used once and can end up in waterways. That’s why the Zoo has eliminated single-use plastic bags, water bottles and straws which has resulted in keeping about 300,000 plastic bottles, 80,000 plastic bags and 23,000 plastic straws from ending up in waterways each year. Most recently, Houston Zoo became the first zoo in the country to eliminate all plastic packaging from gift shops.

Guests can also help sea turtles by visiting the Houston Zoo, as well as taking small actions that make a big difference. A portion of each Zoo membership and admission tickets goes toward supporting the sea turtle rescue and release program.