Wild for Animal Ambassadors

A Legacy of Care and Conservation

MODS’ incredible Life Sciences team cares for more than 430 animal ambassadors that live at the Museum. The team also raises and releases sea turtles back into the wild. In 2020, ambassador sea turtle George, who greeted Museum visitors from his specialized habitat while she prepared for marine life, was released into the Indian River Lagoon in Vero Beach. Youth in the Museum’s MODS Pods e-learning program bid George a bon voyage for his travels into the great outdoors.

The Museum’s newest sea turtle ambassador, Georgia (Gigi), hails from the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton.

Georgia was hatched at the lab as part of an ongoing study, conducted by Dr. Jeanette Wyneken, on the ways that environmental factors affect the gender of turtle hatchlings. Both turtles were named for Mr. George E. Batchelor, visionary aviator, business entrepreneur, and philanthropist.

Explore awesome opportunities to experience wildlife, including Breakfast with The Otters, MODS Gone Wild Series excursions, Turtle Walks and Distinguished Speaker Series! For more information, please visit mods.org.

Life Sciences Program is Sponsored by