Turtle: In his own words
‘Ludwig’ details move from Sea World to Boca’s Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
Published Friday, October 14, 2005 1:00 am
Hello, Boca Raton!
I just wanted to tell you how much fun I’m having at the Gumbo Limbo Environmental Complex on State Road A1A in Boca Raton.
Let me tell you a little about myself. My name is Ludwig, and I came to Boca from Sea World. You may not know it, but Gumbo Limbo is the headquarters for Boca Raton’s Sea Turtle Conservation Program.
Over the years, the center has housed many young and injured turtles, caring for them until they were ready to be released into the world or transferred to another facility.
Actually, I am a very special turtle. I was captured in 1978 and lived at various Sea World parks since then. Because I was captured before the Endangered Species Act went into effect, Sea World is under no legal restriction to release me into the wild.
So, I spend a lot of time in the big pool behind the gift shop along the boardwalks. I’m not sure where I came from or how old I am. They tell me I was born somewhere along the Gulf Coast – but everything looks the same from this side of the water.
Kirt Rusenko, the marine conservationist here, says I could be as young as 38 or as old as my 60s. I’m a little shell-shocked that I might be that old!
I guess that’s why I sleep a lot. But I also swim around, eat shrimp and play with some of the fish in the pool.
Sunday’s great. That’s when they drain the pool and a nice lady comes in and washes me.
I really like Boca Raton. The city is very conscious of its turtle population. It even installed special lighting along A1A so it wouldn’t confuse the nesting turtles.
If I were a loggerhead or a green, that would really excite me – because they nest at night. Kemp’s Ridleys nest during the day.
Actually, we used to be the most endangered species of turtle. In 1988, there were only about 400 of us still around. But now there are more than 4,000.
Kirt knows what has helped. In Mexico, police now patrol the beaches where we nest to stop poachers. And shrimp boats are now equipped with turtle exclusion devices so we won’t get trapped when we go after shrimp, our favorite food.
Actually, I have a job to do here at Gumbo Limbo. I will be promoting public awareness and education about the vanishing population of sea turtles around the world.
Not only do I have a job, I’ve got a contract – a renewable, five-year agreement with Sea World to stay here for some time.
So stop by and visit us at the Gumbo Limbo Environmental Complex, 1801 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton. Call 561-338-1473 or log on to www.gumbolimbo.org or e-mail info@gumbolimbo.org.
