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FEATURING
THE ART OF ARTIFICIAL AN AQUARIUM Creating One-of-a-Kind Corals FOR ALL SEASONS FEATURING
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Seasonally Sensitive Animals Feel Right at Home PLUS
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One Family’s Support Takes Many FormsPLUS 10
A Brand-New Jelly Species Pops Up A Floating Haven in the Harbor
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04 Schaefer’s Splash, Immortalized 06
FROM THE CEO
The heartwarming photo of the rescue seal nicknamed Sally Ride on this issue’s cover reminds me of nature’s delicate balance—and humankind’s fragile grasp of its importance. Recently, I was honored to speak at the 2019 Climate Leadership Conference. The opportunity to share our mission with 500 sustainability thought leaders inspired me, and I offered them three key points. First, there is no real climate change debate—only a climate literacy gap. Proof of climate change is everywhere. Extreme weather events, historic flooding or killer tornados
“We can only create the world we want to live in by caring for the world we already have.”
may seem isolated, but they are all related. Yet, we humans are poorly equipped to perceive slow-moving threats like a warming (and rising) ocean or unstable temperature swings. This is why education is crucial. Every day, we work to demystify climate science for thousands of Aquarium guests.
Next, we must embrace the need for and benefits of sustainability. Much has been made of the difficulty and cost of making smart, sustainable choices to the way we live and do business, but sustainable habits actually save time, money and resources. Whether we lower our energy bills with solar power or choose reusable goods over disposable options, making intelligent lifestyle choices is perhaps the most important step we can take to help our planet. Finally, in delivering this message of hope, we must meet people where they are. Here, that means reaching out to young people, here in Baltimore and beyond. Our conservation team works to inspire meaningful change by encouraging everyone to get involved. It comes down to giving our audiences the tools and techniques necessary to make informed decisions that inevitably improve their lives. Whether we’re organizing beach cleanups, engaging citizen scientists in a BioBlitz or helping Baltimore middle schoolers investigate what lives in the harbor, our top priority is to make conservation and sustainability accessible, approachable and fun. I hope you’ll join us in this quest. We can only create the world we want to live in by caring for the world we already have.
NATIONAL AQUARIUM INC. CHAIR Marc Bunting IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Thomas E. Robinson VICE CHAIR Jane W. I. Droppa EX OFFICIO The Honorable Bernard C. “Jack” Young The Honorable John Olszewski Jr. Samantha F. O’Neil John C. Racanelli Todd Chester LIFE DIRECTOR Frank A. Gunther Jr. BOARD MEMBERS Timothy J. Adams Adam Borden John Bremer Keith Campbell David Churchill Céline Cousteau Colleen Dilenschneider Dr. Nancy Grasmick Mohannad F. Jishi Robb Merritt Joseph Nigro The Honorable Stephanie Rawlings-Blake Jennifer W. Reynolds Dr. Enric Sala Shari Sant Plummer Alex Smith Chuck Tildon Tamika Tremaglio C. Elizabeth Wagner Edward Wiese
WATERMARKS CREATIVE CONTRIBUTORS EXECUTIVE EDITOR Kristin Zissel EDITORS Nabila Chami Megan Kowalski Kate Schmelyun DESIGNERS Dave Dundas Binglin Hu ILLUSTRATOR Binglin Hu PHOTOGRAPHERS David Coffey Theresa Keil Mark Moody Anastasia Tantaros COPY EDITOR Chris M. Junior A copy of the National Aquarium’s financial statement is available upon written request. Documents filed in accordance with the Maryland Charitable Organization Solicitation Act may be obtained from the Maryland Secretary of State. © 2019 National Aquarium Inc.
Warmly,
— J ohn C. Racanelli PRESIDENT AND CEO
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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
FEATURES
IN EVERY ISSUE
AN AQUARIUM
AQUARIUM NEWS
ANIMAL UPDATES
FOR ALL SEASONS
NATIONAL AQUARIUM ANIMAL
ATHENA AND ARTEMIS
WHEN SPRING AND SUMMER USHER
RESCUE HAD A VERY BUSY WINTER.
TAKE THE RAIN FOREST.
AND WARMER TEMPERATURES, SUBTLE
WE’RE SPEAKING UP FOR
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SPIRIT!
CHANGES TAKE PLACE INSIDE THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS
AQUARIUM, TOO.
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
IN LONGER DAYS, SHORTER NIGHTS
ANIMAL RESCUE HITS A BIG MILESTONE! 13
08 TINY JELLY POLYPS LEAD TO BIG
SCHAEFER’S SPLASH MAKES WAVES
THINGS FOR OUR CURATORS.
FAMILY TIME SEEK OUT SOME SURPRISES
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THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS AFTER MAYOR
ON YOUR NEXT VISIT.
SCHAEFER’S ICONIC SEAL POOL
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PLUNGE, WE UNVEIL A PERMANENT COMMEMORATION. 06
ON THE COVE R This rescued harp seal nicknamed Sally Ride received life-saving care from National Aquarium Animal Rescue. PHOTOGRAPH BY THERESA KEIL
ABOVE Aquarium CEO John Racanelli and Animal Rescue Rehabilitation Manager Kate Shaffer— and her sons—look on as rescued seal Marie Tharp makes her way back to the ocean. P H O T O G R A P H B Y D AV I D C O F F E Y
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AQUARIUM NEWS
A Seal-y Busy Year An increased number of seal sightings keeps Animal Rescue unusually busy. BY KRISTIN ZISSEL National Aquarium Animal Rescue had a busy winter and continues to provide optimal care for some very special guests this spring. In addition to rehabilitating three dozen rescued sea turtles, our team had a full seal stranding season and is currently working to rehabilitate several grey and harp seals nicknamed for influential scientists. Beginning each fall, we receive calls to our animal stranding hotline reporting seal sightings on the midAtlantic coast. While it’s not unusual to see seals relaxing– or hauling out–onto local beaches as water temperatures cool, our staff, in cooperation with volunteers from the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, is careful to check up on every seal reported. Many seals sighted on local beaches are simply resting; others may be in distress. These seals receive further monitoring on the beach and, in some cases, veterinary attention and rehabilitation at our Animal Care and Rescue Center in Baltimore. The seals most frequently encountered on Maryland shores are juveniles still mastering the social hierarchy of their colonies who might have gotten slightly off course or have become sick or injured. Some typical injuries and illnesses include respiratory and eye infections;
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scrapes and contusions from boat strikes or interactions with other animals; injuries incurred on land through contact with dogs or humans; and other conditions such as sea lice infestations, dehydration and lethargy. Three juvenile male grey seals named for Edwin Hubble, George Washington Carver and Albert Einstein are receiving care at our state-of-the-art Animal Care and Rescue Center. A female harp seal admitted in January and named for geologist and cartographer Marie Tharp completed her rehabilitation and was released back into the chilly waters off Ocean City on April 5. A juvenile female harp seal named for astronaut and astrophysicist Sally Ride completed her treatment and was released on April 25. As each patient progresses, additional releases will take place. LEARN MORE
For more information on National Aquarium Animal Rescue, visit aqua.org/animal-rescue. BELOW Rescue seal Marie Tharp during her rehabilitation at our Animal Care and Rescue Center. PHOTO BY THERESA KEIL
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AQUARIUM NEWS
Pledging to Ensure a Better Future In the face of threats to environmental protections, the National Aquarium invites the public to speak up and be counted. BY KRISTIN ZISSEL After decades of steady legislative progress on behalf of our environment and the animals with which we share it and our one, global ocean, the National Aquarium is speaking out in defense of protective measures under review at the federal level.
audiences to pledge their support for the continuance of the affected protections.
Over the past year, the Aquarium has initiated public awareness campaigns in support of the Marine Mammal Commission, originally established under the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act; the Endangered Species Act, passed in 1973; and, most recently, the Clean Water Act, passed in 1977.
“By highlighting these issues and encouraging our guests, members and online audiences to join us in speaking up for our most treasured resources, we hope that we are not only making a difference, but also fostering an educated, engaged Aquarium family,” says Aquarium Senior Vice President of External Affairs Jennifer Driban. “Organizations like ours must remind both the public and policymakers of the importance of maintaining strong protections for our environment.”
Each of these important, long-standing measures has been successful in doing what they set out to do; namely, protecting endangered and threatened animal species on land and in the water, and improving and protecting the health of our waterways—the source of clean drinking water for most Americans.
To date, we have collected more than 1,800 pledges in support of these important measures through our website. Find out about opportunities to make your voice heard by subscribing to our government and policy newsletter at aqua.org/newsletter. Follow our progress at aqua.org/blog.
Nonprofits such as the National Aquarium have been leading the charge to speak out against the weakening or elimination of these important protections. The Aquarium has submitted public comment letters to the federal government and offered the opportunity for our
ABOVE Visitors to Baltimore’s 2018 Artscape festival were encouraged to pledge their support of conservation action.
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PHOTO BY THERESA KEIL
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AQUARIUM NEWS
Tiny Jellies, Big Discovery Our curators work to solve a giant mystery in the form of a miniscule animal. BY MEGAN KOWALSKI WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY BINGLIN HU It was an average day in November 2016 at the National Aquarium; Jennie Janssen and Brian Nelson, both assistant curators of Blue Wonders, were completing their daily rounds through the exhibits in Pier 3 when Janssen noticed something peculiar in the Camouflaging exhibit in the Surviving Through Adaptation gallery. As the Aquarium’s chief jelly expert, Janssen is accustomed to keeping her sharp eye out for small, pulsing aquatic creatures, so her attention zeroed in on a small movement on the water’s surface. It was a transparent, barely perceptible jelly about 5 millimeters in length. It was a surprising find, considering that the Camouflaging exhibit, home to the Aquarium’s reef scorpionfish, isn’t exactly a jelly-friendly habitat. Over the following weeks, dozens of these jellies were pulled from the exhibit and moved to National Aquarium’s culture lab for safekeeping and closer examination.
The exact origin of these jellies is a mystery, but one fact was clear after observing them under a microscope: These animals were box jellies. Determining the specific species of box jelly, though, has proved to be a tougher case to crack. When classifying animals, species are typically described based on the adults, so the juvenile stages are oftentimes undocumented. There are approximately 50 known species of box jelly, but very few have fully described life cycles—meaning that there was a chance these jellies were juveniles of an already-known species. Was this the case, or were these jellies a species not yet known to science? To find out, Aquarium staff—in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History— sequenced the DNA of these jellies and compared it to the DNA of other box jellies. By doing so, they got an 88% match with a known species, which, like the mystery box jelly, has only two tentacles as a juvenile. This discovery allowed staff to determine the jelly’s family: Alatinidae. This was an important step, but the question of the exact species remains. Aquarium staff have now successfully raised these jellies from polyps to the four tentacled adult medusa stage—a tall order, considering that staff had no information about the environment or diet these animals naturally prefer. Our experts will be able to formally describe this box jelly and give it a new scientific name once the medusae reach their adult life stage, marked by the ability to reproduce— although there’s no telling when that’ll be. Until then, the tale of the mysterious jelly continues. LEARN MORE
To learn more about the wonderful world of jellies, visit aqua.org/jellies-invasion. LEFT An actual photo of the adult medusa phase, photographed in our culture lab. P H OTO BY M A R K M O O DY
OPPOSITE This illustration represents the trajectory of growth, from polyp to juvenile medusa to adult medusa stage, of a potentially new species of box jelly.
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AQUARIUM NEWS
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FI N E AFTOUCRUE SS
Schaefer’s Splash Continues to Make Waves The Aquarium tips its (straw) hat to its biggest champion with a new mural. BY KATE SCHMELYUN When Baltimore Sun readers unfolded their newspapers one morning in July 1981, they were greeted by two front-page photos of Mayor William Donald Schaefer, wearing a straw hat and striped Victorian-era bathing suit, holding an inflatable Donald Duck, taking a dip in the outdoor seal pool at the not-yet-open National Aquarium.
His wife, Dot, agrees. She says visiting the Aquarium with her grandchildren is among her favorite memories.
A model dressed as a mermaid, 300 spectators, multiple news crews and a few seals were there to watch as the mayor made good on his promise to go for a swim if the Aquarium didn’t open on schedule on July 1. (It officially opened just a few weeks later, on August 8.)
It took Sheppard three years to complete the mural, which can now be seen just inside the Aquarium’s main entrance on Pier 3, near the escalators and Harbor Market Kitchen.
Mr. Rosenberg and Sheppard were personal friends of Schaefer’s; Sheppard painted his official portraits as both mayor of Baltimore and governor of Maryland.
The mural was unveiled April 11 during a private event. In addition to the Rosenbergs When guests enter the Aquarium today, and Sheppard, attendees included two they are greeted by a 6-foot by 15-foot people who were in the seal pool with mural that captures the now-infamous Schaefer that day—Frank Gunther, founding moment. The mural, titled Schaefer’s Splash chairman of the National Aquarium painted by artist Joseph Sheppard, is a Board of Directors, and Deborah Walker, gift to the Aquarium from the Dorothy and the woman in the mermaid costume. Henry A. Rosenberg, Jr. Foundation. Addressing Walker during the event, Aquarium President and CEO John The Aquarium tips its hat to itsRacanelli biggest with a new Henry Rosenberg and (straw) Aquarium leaders said,champion “We are so glad you could wanted to permanently honor Schaefer, be here tonight, and that you didn’t have BY KATE SCHMELYUN who had the vision to create an aquarium to be carried in by men in frog costumes as a vital part of the redevelopment of this time.” Baltimore’s Inner Harbor in the 1970s. B E HIND AND OPPOSITE Rosenberg generously provided the A crowd gathers at a special event in celebration of the Aquarium with a dedicated gift to create Aquarium’s new mural, Schaefer’s Splash. the art installation. He has been a donor, P H OTO BY A N A S TA S I A TA N TA R O S member and friend of the Aquarium since 1981. “It’s just a wonderful institution,” he says.
“Schaefer’s Splash” Continues to Make Waves
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mural.
S C H A E F E R ’ S S P L A S HI N C OF N OTCIU NSU E S T O M A K E W A V E S
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An Aquarium for All Seasons As seasons change, the National Aquarium team ensures that animals feel right at home. BY KATE SCHMELYUN ILLUSTRATED BY BINGLIN HU When spring and summer usher in longer days, shorter nights and warmer temperatures, subtle changes start happening inside the National Aquarium, too. By adjusting the lighting and temperatures in Aquarium habitats, as well as the foods and materials available, staff members encourage animals to maintain natural rhythms and exhibit innate behaviors.
Fawn-Breasted Bowerbird, Australia: Wild Extremes Because our Australia exhibit gets natural light through its glass ceiling, the seasons outside dictate the seasons inside. The habitat is home to 12 kinds of birds, including the fawn-breasted bowerbird, which gets its name from the intricate structures (or bowers) males build to attract mates. These bowers are different from nests; they’re large U-shaped tunnels made of twigs and sticks, in and around which the bird places a variety of objects he has collected. “We increase the available bower materials in May, June and July, though the male works on his bower year-round,” explains Assistant Curator Jessica Nelson. “Our guy likes green things, so we offer green craft paper, toy pieces and fake leaves to help him find a variety of things to decorate with.”
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AN AQUARIUM FOR ALL SEASONS
Red-Capped Cardinal, Upland Tropical Rain Forest “In Upland Tropical Rain Forest, because of the glass ceilings, we don’t have any control over the light cycle,” explains Assistant Curator Deb Dial. One way staff members signal seasonal changes for the exhibit’s birds— such as the red-capped cardinal—is through their menu. “After a wet season in the rain forest, there’s an explosion of bugs, so we create that in the exhibit by offering more insects, and a wider variety of them, for birds to eat,” Dial says.
Poison Dart Frogs, Upland Tropical Rain Forest Poison dart frogs are tuned into barometric pressure and can sense fluctuations happening outside the Aquarium from inside. When the barometric pressure falls, staff simulate a heavy rain inside the frog habitats. A few days later, the frogs lay eggs. “The dart frogs lay eggs throughout the year, but there is some seasonality to frog breeding, and the ones here at the Aquarium follow along with the Maryland rainy seasons,” says Nelson.
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Alcids, Sea Cliffs The Sea Cliffs gallery in North Atlantic to the Pacific is home to three species of alcids, or diving sea birds—Atlantic puffins, black guillemots and razorbills. Aviculturists create seasonal changes in lighting, temperature, food and available nesting material to ensure that all the birds are molting and breeding at the same time. “The lights in Sea Cliffs are timed to mimic the North Atlantic,” explains Dial. “Aviculturists make adjustments to the daily light cycle, called the photoperiod, in eight- minute increments all year long to mimic seasonal changes in their natural daytime cycles.” She adds, “Guests visiting in June will see different plumage than those visiting in December and may notice more nesting material and plants in the rockwork. We open up the burrows to encourage the birds to nest.” Three puffin chicks hatched in Sea Cliffs last July, and aviculturists are gearing up for more baby birds this summer.
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AN AQUARIUM FOR ALL SEASONS
Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins, Dolphin Discovery In Dolphin Discovery, the marine mammal team has begun to prepare the Aquarium’s colony of seven dolphins for its transition to an outdoor sanctuary by fluctuating the water temperature seasonally—from a low of 72 degrees in winter to a high of 85 in the summer. “By increasing the water temperature, we are preparing our dolphins for a tropical habitat,” says Assistant Curator Kerry Diehl. “Bottlenose dolphins are very adaptable and able to thrive in a range of water temperatures, anywhere from 50 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.” The Aquarium’s site selection team has so far investigated more than 50 potential sanctuary locations in Florida and the Caribbean, focusing on those with excellent seawater quality, a protected seaside site and appropriate air and water temperatures in a year-round climate. Here in Baltimore, the marine mammal team is working with the dolphins to practice behaviors necessary for relocating to and living in an outdoor sanctuary.
Sand Tiger Sharks, Shark Alley The water in Shark Alley is held at a steady 77.5 degrees all year, but the lighting simulates dawn and dusk, with longer daylight hours in summer. In July, the lights start coming on at 7:30 am and powering down at 9:30 pm. By December, the schedule has shifted two hours later in the morning and a half-hour earlier at night. According to Fishes Research Specialist Alan Henningsen, the lights take 90 minutes to come up to full brightness and go down to darkness, and the lighting schedule is adjusted incrementally throughout the year. “Nongradual changes in light and temperature can cause stress,” he says, “and the last thing we want to do is stress them out.” The light schedule is primarily geared to the sand tiger sharks, which can be found in all warm temperate and tropical coastal waters except the eastern and central Pacific. Other species—such as sawfish that live in tropical habitats where there aren’t dramatic shifts in daylight— adapt well to the changes since they are so subtle.
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F A M I LY T I M E
Kids’ Corner: Scavenger Hunt! Are you an Aquarium animal expert? The next time you visit the Aquarium, bring this scavenger hunt with you and see how many questions you can answer! The fawn-breasted bowerbird (page 8) is one of 12 bird species in Australia: Wild Extremes. Which of the other birds in this exhibit is known for its “laughing” call?
Sharks are critically important to the health of the ocean, but the populations of many species are declining because of manmade threats. What is the conservation status of the sand tiger shark (page 11)?
______________________________________________ Alcids are diving seabirds (page 10), and in the Aquarium, you can find them in the Sea Cliffs exhibit on Level 4. Puffins may be the most recognizable of these aquatic birds, but there are two other species of alcids in this exhibit. What are they?
______________________________________________ How many Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (page 11) can you spot in Dolphin Discovery? Hint: Keep an eye on the back pools as well as the main front pool!
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There’s a poison dart frog (page 9) in Hidden Life that has what fruit in its name?
In Dolphin Discovery, what is staff allowing to grow in the exhibit to help prepare the dolphins for their future sanctuary home?
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What yellow frog in Hidden Life hails from Central America and is critically endangered? ______________________________________________ ANSWER KEY:
kookaburra; black guillemots and razorbills; strawberry; Panamanian golden frog; vulnerable; seven; algae
Member Exclusive: Summer Visit Tips The summer season brings peak crowds at the Aquarium— make the most of your visit by taking advantage of these tips! STAY FOR LONGER
SAVE MONEY
SAVE TIME
In July and August, take advantage of our extended summer hours! You can enjoy the Aquarium from 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Thursday; 9 am to 8 pm Fridays and Saturdays; and 9 am to 6 pm on Sundays.
Members receive 25% off regular parking rates at our partner garages, Parkway Lockwood Place Garage and LAZ Inner Harbor Garage, as well as 10% off Aquarium dining, shopping and photos.
Members receive VIP express entry, allowing you to breeze past the general admission lines—especially helpful in the busy summer months!
Don’t forget about our Member Evenings on June 18, July 24 and August 14!
Share the magic of the Aquarium with 20% off advanced tickets for guests not covered under your membership.
Register at aqua.org/member-events.
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Don’t waste any time digging through your wallet for your member card— you can access a digital version on your smartphone! To add your digital member card to your phone, check your welcome email for directions, or email members@aqua.org.
A N I M A L U P DAT E
New Feathered Friends The next time you’re in Upland Tropical Rain Forest, keep an eye out for Athena and Artemis, the two newest avian residents of the exhibit. These two are young adult female yellow-rumped caciques, and they’re recognizable by—you guessed it— their bright yellow backsides, a pop of color in contrast to the rest of their black bodies. These birds are native to the lowlands of South America, from Panama to Paraguay. PHOTOGR APH BY MARK MOODY
F U LL H O U S E AT TH E C E NTE R
Aquarium staff at the Animal Care and Rescue Center were hard at work this spring, admitting hundreds of fishes and other animals for quarantine before their eventual move to the National Aquarium! Our state-of-the-art facility—which officially opened in May 2018— will be the temporary home for these animals as our staff ensures they’re healthy and set up for success in their future exhibit homes. TOA D R O U N D U P
Did you know that there’s a population of free-ranging smoothsided toads in Upland Tropical Rain Forest? If you’re lucky, you can catch a glimpse of them under the stairs of the observation deck, but they’re much more active at night. Earlier this year, staff held a late-night stakeout to round up these toads in order to assess population growth and health. In total, staff performed health checks on 17 toads. H A P PY B I R TH DAY, S P I R IT !
On April 13, we celebrated a very special birthday: Spirit, one of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in our colony, turned 18 years old!
TH E B I G 2 5 0
In March, Animal Rescue traveled to Florida for a rescue turtle release that marked the 250th animal rehabilitated and released since the program’s inception in 1991! PHOTOGRAPH BY THERESA KEIL
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