The Gulfarium CARE Center raised more than $155,000 at its annual CARE on the Coast TurtleFest, held April 18 at Gulfarium, with more than 1,200 tickets sold to support local sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation and release efforts.

• Guests from across the area gathered for an afternoon of live entertainment, food and drinks from local vendors, animal meet and greets, educational activities and conservation partner exhibits, all in support of the CARE Center’s mission to protect and preserve marine life.

“TurtleFest is a celebration of both community and conservation,” said Patrick Berry, president and CEO of Gulfarium. “Seeing over a thousand guests come together to enjoy the festival while directly supporting our life-saving work with sea turtles is incredibly meaningful. Every dollar raised helps us continue rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing these animals back into the Gulf.”

Funds raised from the event directly benefit the Gulfarium CARE Center, which has rescued and rehabilitated hundreds of sea turtles since 2015. The money helps cover the cost of medical care, food and rehabilitation for injured and endangered sea turtles along the Gulf Coast.

“This level of community support makes a real difference for every patient that comes through our doors,” said Sarah Kamen, stranding coordinator for the Gulfarium CARE Center. “From hook and line injuries to cold stunning events, the CARE Center can respond quickly and provide critical care because of events like TurtleFest. We are so grateful to everyone who attended and contributed to our mission.”

The CARE Center carried that conservation work forward last week with its first sea turtle release of the season, held April 22 at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, where rehabilitated sea turtles returned to the Gulf.

The Gulfarium CARE Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on marine animal rescue, rehabilitation and conservation education along the Gulf Coast. The CARE Center and its patients can be visited as part of a general admission ticket to Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park.

Anyone who encounters a sea turtle in distress is asked to report it to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC (1-888-404-3922).