ENDED: Sea Life in DFW has new Turtle Rescue Center Opening @SEALIFEgrpevine

Opening on July 11th, SEA LIFE Aquarium Grapevine will unveil their new Turtle Rescue Center. The new exhibit will be open to the public and provide a permanent home for two non-releasable endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles, Roxy and Squirt.

The Turtle Rescue Center includes display tanks that were specially designed to the depth the turtles are able to safely dive based on their injuries, as well as educational information on conservation and turtle rescue.

Before being transferred to SEA LIFE Aquarium, both injured Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles were rescued and rehabilitated by Animal Rehabilitation Keep (ARK) in Port Aransas. Roxy was found stranded off Mustang Island Gulf Beach in 2007 after both left limbs were bitten off and her right limb suffered a large bite, limiting mobility on her left side. Squirt was found stranded on the Padre Island National Seashore in 2009 after a boat strike caused paralysis of both rear flippers and a cracked shell, affecting his ability to dive. Due to the severity of their injuries, both turtles are unable to return to their natural habitat and will now live out the rest of their lives in the safety of SEA LIFE Aquarium.

In addition to seeing the two endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles in the new exhibit, visitors will also be able to learn about Flip, a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle found stranded on the shores of the Netherlands. SEA LIFE Aquarium Grapevine, along with their sister attraction in Holland, coordinated the turtle’s rehabilitation, transport back to the U.S., and worked alongside ARK to assist with the turtle’s release back into its native Gulf of Mexico in November 2012. In the aquarium’s ocean tank, guests can also view the non-releasable green sea turtle Hope, who was rescued after being hit by a boat off the coast of Florida.

In celebration of the Turtle Rescue Center opening, SEA LIFE will also commemorate its second anniversary with cake for guests served at 4 p.m. on the second level of the attraction (while supplies last).

GIVEAWAY: I have partnered with SeaLife to give one lucky MyCRAZYSavings reader a Family 4 Pack of tickets. To enter, just leave a comment on this post with who you would take with you! For extra entries, share on FB or Twitter and leave your link in comments. (The share buttons below the post make it super easy!) Tickets can be used starting on July 11th for FREE admission to check out this new awesome addition. I have seen these little guys and it’s really cool how they have rescued them!  Giveaway ends on June 30 at 5:PM CST.

Admission is $19 for adults, $15 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for kids 2 and under. Buy special discounted tickets online. Annual pass holders will receive free entry to a special sneak peek of the new exhibit before it opens to the public on June 10 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.