Sea Turtle Hospital News

Freed "Willy"

Our transcontinental traveler is roaming the seas again. It's been a long and eventful beginning for a little Kemp's that's only about five years old: blown across the Atlantic, in rehab in the UK, two years of government red tape to be repatriated and finally a short stay with us to lose her accent and turn on her sea turtle GPS. After passing several of her "walking tests" where she strolled the sand and oriented herself, she finally got to put flippers to water on a spectacular June 10 afternoon.

Christine Pitcher from the Great Yarmouth Sea Life Center in the UK flew over to pass along best wishes from Willy's UK fans, and to carry her to the surf. Because our hospital is open for tours the news about the impending release of our "English patient" traveled fast, and a large crowd of Willy fans were on-hand at the beach. Somehow she knew they were all there for her as she was carried past the multitudes like royalty, giving her admirers a queenly wave with her flippers.

After wading out into chest-deep water Christine took her hands away, and Willy glided gracefully through the gently rolling waves. We were able to watch her for some time, and an occasional flipper broke through the surface as if she was saying a final good-bye. Willy was a delight to have at our facility, and we are so proud that, of all the other places Sea Life Park could have chosen they entrusted us with her care.

Kids 

You just never know what to expect from kids, and it's certainly unusual for them to willingly part with money, unless of course it's for the newest electronic gadget or video game. But lately we're finding more young‘uns who sacrifice their time and funds so that our turtles can have the food and medicine they need. Typical of this kind of compassion and generosity is Tessa Peerbolte. Tessa began visiting the hospital when her grandmother was a volunteer, and she desperately wanted to help the turtles get better. Even though she was much too young for even our junior internship program she was very observant. She saw people helping us in other ways: donating during tours, buying our merchandise, dropping money into the donation cans on the island and walking the beach. When she turned six, Tessa invited all of her friends to her birthday bash and asked them not to bring her presents, but to bring money for the turtles. And every year she's done the same; inviting her friends for a day of food and fun (including a water slide) and dedicating her "gifts" to our turtles. This year, on her twelfth birthday she presented Jean with a check for $450. And Tessa's not the only one. We have a lot of families coming for our tours, and the children are carrying zip-lock bags of currency and change. These kids have also been donating their birthday money, putting out cans in their neighborhoods, selling lemonade and holding dress-down days at school. Their creativity astounds us, and their willingness to do all of this for our turtles warms our heart. Maybe there is hope.

Hospital Open House

 It's been a long winter for everyone, especially for those of you who stopped by hoping that we'd let you "peek inside." Well now we'll do more than let you peek: we're inviting you to come inside and meet some of our patients. And our gift shop is open so you can get some cool turtle shirts to wear now and some more shirts (and other stuff) to give as gifts. This is the year we're determined to break ground on our new facility. With your generous support we will get that additional $350,00 we need to erect phase one, so please don't pass by that donation jar, and please take time to browse in our gift area. Visiting hours are from 2 to 4 p.m. daily, except Wednesday and Sunday. Lines can be long, so come prepared with sunscreen and umbrellas for shade. We reserve the right to close without notice during hazardous weather and for incoming turtles.

"Turtle Talk" Returns

Join us at the Surf City Community Center for a great family-oriented program on the mysterious lives of sea turtles. Turtle Talk is a great way to learn about these majestic creatures, with plenty of handouts and hands-on activities for every age. The program is free and is held every Wednesday from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m., through Labor Day. Bring your camera, and donations for our turtles are gratefully accepted.

Topsail Turtle Project Update

Our Loggerhead ladies are certainly taking their time this year. As of this writing we only have nine nests, not that it really means anything this early in the game. Our volunteers continue to patrol every mile of the island every day, so if you see them say "hey" and feel free to ask them questions about what they do, and why. Remember that sea turtles are federally protected animals, and harassing them or interfering with them in any way is punishable by a hefty fine and/or imprisonment. Please keep your eyes open for nesting mamas, stranded or injured turtles or anything suspicious and contact our Director of Beach Operations Terry Meyer at 910 470-2880, immediately. Harassment incidents should also be reported immediately to the town police.

Blue Moon

Don't forget that on June 20 our friends at the Blue Moon Gift Shops in Wilmington are hosting a fundraiser for our hospital from noon until 3 p.m. In addition to a fashion show featuring Hawaiian clothing, there will be tastings, entertainment by strolling musicians from the Ukulele Academy, demonstrations, a book signing, a Chinese Auction and a raffle for a handcrafted sea turtle donated by Shaw Lakey. All proceeds from the raffle and auction will be donated to the hospital, as well as 10 percent of the total sales from the Blue Moon Gift Shops and The Gallery at Racine For more information contact Mary Ann Masucci at 910 799-5793.

Questions, comments or suggestions for stories

Contact me at: flippers@embarqmail.com. 

Karen Sota is the volunteer media coordinator for the Sea Turtle Hospital in Topsail Beach.