Grant: 25-030C
Project Title: Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Window Tanks
Project Manager: Bette Zirkelbach
Organization: Hidden Harbor Marine Environmental Project (The Turtle Hospital) (Non-Profit Organization)
Grant Amount: $7,396.00
Completion Date: 2026-03-31
Summary: The Turtle Hospital will purchase two new 6' diameter x 3' high fiberglass turtle rehabilitation tanks. These custom fiberglass tanks will be used to house sea turtle patients during rehabilitation at The Turtle Hosptial. Underwater behavioral observations will allow our veterinary team to better diagnose sea turtles in rehabilitation; therefore, improving patient treatment planning. The tanks will also enhance the guests experience. The guest experience at The Turtle Hospital helps them to connect with sea turtles. The more a guest connects with sea turtles in our educational programs, the more they want to protect sea turtles. Six out of ten of The Turtle Hospital's stranding calls come from people that have been through the hospital's educational program. New custom fiberglass tanks will assure seamless treatment of sea turtles at The Turtle Hospital.
Results: The Turtle Hospital purchased and installed 2 new sea turtle rehabilitation tanks with windows. The tanks are in operation and have allowed our medical team to monitor the behavior of patients underwater. We encountered a challenge with the rim of one of the tanks. We initially thought there was a crack in the tank rim when it was delivered, but in communicating with the manufacturer, they made clear this was
not a crack, but an indentation in their fiberglass mold that would not negatively affect the functionloperation of the tank. The tanks are operational and working well, with no issues.