HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Hawai’i Marine Animal Response announced they are opening a new full-time sea turtle emergency care and rehabilitation facility in collaboration with Hawai’i Pacific University.
The Care Center is on O’ahu and will begin operations this summer after the completion was accelerated due to funds awarded by NOAA through the NFWF Sea Turtles Program.
About 75% of Hawai’i’s sea turtle emergencies are reported on O’ahu annually. The treatment and rehabilitation on the island will be done by non-profit partners across the state, work that used to be done by NOAA.
The Care Center will aid in the capacity of the island and allow responders to carry out rescues and rehabilitation procedures in an efficient and helpful way toward the protection of sea turtles.
Since our start, Hawaiʻi Marine Animal Response has continued to expand and grow our positive impact on the conservation of Hawaiʻi marine protected animals and the oceans. Our dedicated volunteers, interns, and staff will be honored to provide emergency care and rehabilitation services for Hawaiʻi sea turtles. We look forward to providing the resources and medical support to help save these vulnerable animals.
Jon Gelman, Hawaii Marine Animal Response Founder and President
The Hawai’i Marine Animal Response’s Care Center will be the first non-profit sea turtle rehabilitation center on O’ahu and the second of its kind in the state of Hawai’i.
For more information about grants used for sea turtle conservation, visit NOAA Fisheries’s website.