Gumbo Limbo Environmental Complex facts for kids
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| Established | 1984 |
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| Location | Red Reef Park 1801 N. Ocean Blvd. Boca Raton, Florida |
| Type | Nature center |
The Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is a special place in Boca Raton, Florida. It's a nature center run by the city and some helpful groups. It sits on 20 acres of land between the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. This land is part of Red Reef Park. The center is named after the Gumbo-limbo tree, which grows a lot there.
At the center, you can find an indoor museum with cool exhibits. There are also small aquariums and a gift shop. Outside, you'll see big aquariums with fish, turtles, and other sea creatures. You can walk on a boardwalk trail through the nearby woods. There's even a tall observation tower. A special garden helps you watch butterflies. The center also hosts events like watching sea turtles during their nesting season. Many local volunteers help run the center and its activities.
Helping Sea Turtles in Florida
Gumbo Limbo is famous for its work with sea turtles. The beaches of South Florida are important nesting spots. Here, loggerhead, green, and leatherback sea turtles lay their eggs. Sadly, all types of sea turtles today are either threatened or endangered. Gumbo Limbo works with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. They help protect these amazing sea creatures.
Since the 1980s, a special team at Gumbo Limbo has been busy. They are called the Boca Raton Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program. This team watches and studies sea turtle activity. They cover five miles of Boca Raton's city beach. They also help with reports of sick or injured turtles. Their work stretches from the Boynton Beach Inlet to the Boca Raton/Deerfield Beach border.
Sea Turtle Rescue and Care
For over 30 years, Gumbo Limbo's team has helped sick and hurt sea turtles. In 2010, a new rehabilitation center opened. This center treats wounded turtles right on campus. The main goal is to help turtles get well enough to live in the wild again.
This center is one of only six in Florida that treats turtles with Fibropapillomatosis. This condition is linked to a type of herpes virus. It often appears when turtles live in warm, polluted waters. Many turtles with this condition come from lagoons and bays. These areas are often near cities. Runoff from land, like fertilizers and pet waste, pollutes the water. This poor water quality can lead to the condition.
Fibropapillomatosis usually causes harmless tumors. They look a bit like cauliflower. If tumors grow on a turtle's flippers, it can be hard for them to swim. Tumors on the eyes or mouth can make it hard to find food. The good news is that these tumors can be removed by surgery at Gumbo Limbo.
Researching Marine Life
The Gumbo Limbo Environmental Complex also has a research facility. This facility is for Florida Atlantic University's Department of Biological Sciences. Scientists here study many things. They look at sea turtle behavior and how sharks sense things. They also study salt levels in seagrasses. Visitors can often see the facility. You might even get to chat with the researchers!
