Gumbo Limbo

1.12.17

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center

This place was recommended to us by some super friendly folks at Secret Woods.

We all loved it!

The highlight was seeing the turtles being rehabilitated...

 Can you see the slices on her shell?  She was hit by a boat propeller.

We saw another turtle who had a huge fish hook stuck in its esophagus,

and one who was just malnourished and sick.

Ellie took this darling video of Griff...

He's what they call a "wash back,"

 babies who get washed back up on shore after beginning their journey out to sea,

often because they've eaten plastic... which was Griff's challenge.

He's all healthy and ready to be re-released!  Yay!!!

These are the babies that are hatched and studied there at the center,

and then released far off-shore, directly into the current,

where they will have a better chance of surviving.

Statistics vary, but it is estimated that about 1 in 1000 hatchlings survive into adulthood.

We saw some beautiful tropical fish and rays,

and not beautiful moray eels...

My favorite creatures.  💜💙💚

Going back in time a bit...

Tim had found a coconut on the ground early in the week,

so of course they had to get it busted open and see inside...

...and we were so excited to see this at Gumbo Limbo!

So... what is "Gumbo Limbo," you might ask...

It's a tree with a red bark that peels back, kind of like sunburned skin,

giving it the nickname of "Tourist Tree."

😊