Madam turns 20 at Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Article published on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008 |
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| Photo courtesy of CMA |
| Madam, a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle, celebrates her 20th birthday with a frozen fish birthday cake. |
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CLEARWATER – Clearwater Marine Aquarium staff and summer campers honored Madam the sea turtle on her 20th birthday Aug. 6.
During the celebration, Madam was treated to a special frozen fish cake packed with all of her favorite fishy sea snacks. The summer camp children sang “Happy Birthday” to Madam, a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle who is the only animal actually born at the CMA. All others were rescued. Madam was born in 1988 as part of a unique captive breeding program.
The aquarium is home to 21 turtles, including four different species – Loggerhead, Kemp’s Ridley, Green and Hawksbill. The Kemp’s Ridley is the most endangered of all sea turtles.
CMA oversees sea turtle nesting on Pinellas County beaches, locating and protecting nests, and ensuring the hatchlings make their way into the Gulf of Mexico. Sea turtle nesting season runs each year May through October.
So far this season, 96 nests have been located in Pinellas County.
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Article published on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008
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