FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CLEARWATER
MARINE AQUARIUM
For further information contact:
Diana Cowan or Gerri Raymond
727-441-1790, ext. 222
BIRTHDAY
TURTLES –
PLAYFUL DOLPHINS –
AND THANKS TO
THE COMMUNITY!
(Clearwater, Florida) September 20, 2004 . . . . . Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) will
celebrate Pinellas County Appreciation Days this Saturday and Sunday, September
25 and 26, 2004. The celebration
includes a 41st Birthday Party for Mo, the Aquarium’s first resident
– a Loggerhead Sea Turtle. Plus,
Nicholas, the Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin calf rescued by CMA at Christmas,
2002, is officially welcomed to the main dolphin pool.
“For this weekend, admission is only $5.00 for Pinellas County
residents,” announced Dale Schmidt, Executive Director of Clearwater Marine
Aquarium. “This is our way of saying
thanks to the community of Clearwater and the people of Pinellas County for
their consistent support.”
The weekend includes a special “squid ice cake” for Mo. Birthday cake for his guests will be served
at 1 p.m. Mo was found as a hatchling
on Clearwater Beach and taken in by a private individual prior to laws
protecting sea turtles. He spent his
early years at Pier 60 and came to CMA in 1982. He is the oldest known Loggerhead in captivity, so studying him
provides much information about Loggerheads and their aging process. Mo cannot be released not only because he
has been hand-feed his entire life, but also because he has a birth
defect. His shell is concave instead of
being convex which creates buoyancy problems.
-more-
Dedicated to marine animal
rescue and rehabilitation, environmental education, and marine research · 501(C)(3) Not For Profit
249 Windward Passage · Clearwater, FL 33767-2244 · Phone (727) 447-0980 · Fax (727) 442-9466
Appreciation Days
9/20/04
Page 2
Nicholas and his pool pal, Panama, will delight visitors with their
special presentations throughout the day.
CMA rescued Nicholas as a small calf.
Beached with his mother, who died shortly after rescue, Nicholas had
severe sunburns over 30% of his body.
Since he was not yet weaned, and had the serious risk of infection from
the burns, he was not expected to live. However, Nicholas, with his amazing
spirit and will to live, defeated the odds and now splashes a happy testament
to what can be survived.
Mo, Nicholas and everyone at Clearwater Marine Aquarium are deeply
grateful for the support of Clearwater and Pinellas County. Each year on average, CMA will rescue one or
two river otters, one to five dolphins or whales, and between 80 and 100 sea
turtles. Support for the rescue,
rehabilitation and ultimate release or permanent care comes entirely from the
community and friends of the Aquarium.
“We hope the whole county will come see us this weekend,” Schmidt
said. “We want to share the wonderful
stories we have of saved marine lives.
Human life is so entwined with the fragile marine life in this area. We must all be diligent in protecting and
preserving the marine environment and its inhabitants.”
Clearwater Marine Aquarium is located at 249 Windward Passage. Hours this weekend are Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4
p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. CMA
is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation.
Contributions are tax deductible.
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