Help needed please

[sweety314]

My niece is a photojournalism (almost) graduate living near? on? the Treasure Coast in FL. She needs to be able to participate in and take photos of RESCUE / CONSERVATION activities for her degree, but WITHIN THE NEXT SIX WEEKS. (She's in FL for a limited amount of time.) It can be for ANY species, but hopefully something to do with marine ecosystems.

Amy is willing to take photos for website / PR use by the group, joining as a member if required and/or making a reasonable donation to the rescue group's efforts in order to tag along.

Does anyone know of where she can connect??? Or ANYONE w/whom she can get in touch in order to complete this project assignment?? ?? She's tried SeaWorld, DisneyWorld and other local calls and emails, and has gotten the "blow off".

Any names, numbers, help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

RuLyn

 

[RobbiesCornField]

I don't know how far she is from Daytona, but there's a place around here called the Marine Science Center. They take in injured sea turtles and other marine rescues, including seagulls and other water birds.

http://www.marinesciencecenter.com/
100 Lighthouse Drive
Ponce Inlet, FL 32127-7325
(386) 304-5545

 

[Buzzard]

If she was on the west coast near Tampa I would say ... Tampa Bay watch center in Pinellas county, And/or Mote Marine Lab near Sarasota, Could always call Lowery Park Zoo they rescue Manatees. Up further is the Homosassa(?) Wildlife refuge have been raising and trying to save whooping cranes for years( This is where those cranes follow the ultra light to every year).....Just some thoughts.... (what is classified as the treasure coast?)

 

[bitsy]

Probably too far away, but there's the dolphin rescue place in the Keys?

 

[RosieReal]

Mote Marine Lab near Sarasota, Could always call Lowery Park Zoo they rescue Manatees.

I've auctually been there!!! I had never realized how HUUUUUUGE Manatees auctually are.
I brought my father back 'mote mints'...lol

Good luck finding a place, although theres a couple good suggestions up there. Has a quick 'google' of the area with some key words been done? Or perhaps there is a pet store, or visitor info center that may have some information about what is local to her.Sometimes, just asking around locally will bring some supprising results!

 

[jlindp]

I also don't know if this is far from her, but there's a great rehabilitation clinic on Sanibel Island called C.R.O.W. They work primarily with marine animals, but also have shore birds and other Floridian wildlife. I believe Sanibel Island is on the West coast of Florida...and probably opposite of where your niece is, lol.

 

[Daenerys]

There is also a bird sanctuary in the Keys, on Key Largo I think. I was there the last weekend in December! Its pretty neat.

 

[sweety314]

THANK YOU , THANK YOU , THANK YOU!! everyone for your replies.

Yes, she's GOOGLED. She's tried a bunch of the locally listed groups, but they will take her as a volunteer, train her for a year, THEN allow her out in the field. She doesn't have that amount of time.

In answer to some of the questions you've all asked:

1) The Treasure Coast is on the east coast of Florida and is south of Melbourne.
2) Even West Coast of Florida ideas are greatly appreciated as she can utilize those too.

Every hint of places to go really helps. And I've been told they'll look into Marineland. Maybe the dolphin and crane rescue groups will pan out. Will still be willing to take ideas and suggestions.

Thanks again!

RuLyn

 

[sweety314]

Thanks!

I was told that she's been able to make connections and work on her assignment with a turtle rescue. < I'm not sure, but I THINK it's the Marine Center mentioned here. >

But thanks so much to you all who made suggestions! She wanted me to tell you that your ideas helped her out.

:dancer:

 

[kathylove]

Although it is not marine related...

FWC has been working with some of the herp societies to set up amnesty programs for people who have unwanted reptiles. If there are any scheduled within the next few weeks, maybe she could attend and take photos, and interview some of those both surrendering, and accepting, the unwanted pets.

The president of the Central Florida herp society is also spear heading a project with FWC for future amnesty programs and herp rescue work. You might want to contact them through their website (which I see has not been updated just recently) at http://www.cfhs.com/

The treasurer of our local herp society is a vet tech, and takes in unwanted herps and other pets over here in the Ft. Myers / Cape Coral area. She could be interviewed and animals photo'd. Also, one of our board members is the herpetologist for a conservation group on Sanibel (not CROW - a different group). They do work with sea turtles and all other birds, mammals, herps, etc, found on their huge preserve on the island. If she is interested, she can email me and I will email her his telephone # so she can see if there are any photo ops there.

 

[sweety314]

thanks!

Kathy,

Thx for the addtnl information. I've passed it along to her. I don't know if she's going to be getting in touch (she still has other assignments) but I've given her the post and let her know who you are. I'm fostering her corn for her right now, but this will be a good opportunity for her to start learning who is in the biz.