Grant: 22-037C
Project Title: Transport Vehicle for Clearwater Marine Aquarium Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Program
Project Manager: Shelly Marquardt, DVM
Organization: Clearwater Marine Aquarium (Non-Profit Organization)
Grant Amount: $35,000.00
Completion Date: 2023-06-08
Summary: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Program will purchase a new transport vehicle. The vehicle would provide reliable and safe transportation of rehabilitating sea turtles for offsite medical procedures and diagnostic imagining, transfer between rehabilitation facilities, and to release sites. This purchase will replace an old undependable vehicle and allow for improved sea turtle rehabilitation and release.
Results: Thanks to this grant funding Clearwater Marine Aquarium was able to purchase a new 2021 Dodge Ram ProMaster to transport sick or injured turtles from the wild to our hospital. We purchased the van on December 28, 2022 from Dayton Andrews Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Clearwater FL for $51,000. Clearwater Marine Aquarium's sea turtle rehabilitation team was excited to use the van for the first time on May 17th. Back in February, our rescue team saved a 250 lb. adult male loggerhead that was in distress due to red tide. After a few months in rehabilitation with us, he was cleared to be released back into the wild. A large group of volunteers, staff, interns, the public and the media celebrated Shenandoah's release. Less than a week later, we got to use the van again when we released Ciabatta, a green sea turtle who was released into the wild at Treasure Island after almost three weeks of rehabilitation.