Editor Pick
Sea Turtle, Inc.
- October 27, 2000
- Rated 3 of 5 by
Mrs. J from austin, Texas
Kemp's ridley sea turtle and seven other endangered species of marine turtle are available for up close viewing every day but Monday and Thursday. The guides are friendly and informative. The history of Sea Turtle, Inc. is fascinating. Ila Loetscher, known as The Turtle Lady in Texas, decided that the public wouldn't be interested enough in sea turtles to want to save them from extinction unless they were educated about the turtles. She felt that in order to reach the usual tourists she should do something extraordinary with the turtles--so she dressed them in little bonnets and dresses and attracted a great deal of attention. She was quite a character, one of the first woman pilots in the United States and a self-admitted eccentric. She ran the turtle tours until she was in her nineties. She died last year. The new organizers feel that these days children are interested enough in conservation that turtle costumes aren't necessary to attract and hold their attention. While Ila would let people handle the turtles, that is no longer allowed. The children learn about the turtles and might get to feed them. I respect Ila for her pioneering work even if I prefer to see the turtles without corny costumes.
From journal The Tropical Tip of Texas--South Padre Island