Sea Turtle
Sea Turtle Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1977 on South Padre Island, Texas, that rehabilitates, conserves, and educates around endangered sea turtles — particularly the Kemp's ridley — through the world's largest enclosed sea turtle hospital, a bi-national US-Mexico conservation program, and diversified revenue from admissions, memberships, adoptions, programs, events, and grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersSouth Padre Island, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sea Turtle does
Sea Turtle Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1977 by Ila Fox Loetscher ("The Turtle Lady of South Padre Island") and headquartered at 6617 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, Texas. The organization's core mission is the conservation, medical rehabilitation, and release of sea turtles — with a particular focus on the critically endangered Kemp's ridley species — supported by public education and applied research programs. Its infrastructure centers on a 15,000+ square-foot Sea Turtle Hospital that opened in March 2025 and is described as the world's largest enclosed sea turtle hospital, featuring a CT scanner room, public viewing windows into food preparation and treatment areas, and dedicated clinical and life support systems. The organization holds federal and state permits for handling endangered sea turtles and operates under a bi-national agreement with the Government of Mexico and the US Fish & Wildlife Service to protect Kemp's ridley nesting beaches along South Texas and Tamaulipas, with daily patrols covering roughly 50 southernmost miles from South Padre Island to Boca Chica Beach during nesting season (April 1 to August 15).
The organization's business model blends earned revenue with philanthropic support across nine distinct streams: general admission ($5–$15 depending on age/military status), annual memberships with 10% gift shop discounts, sea turtle adoptions (nest, patient, and resident), a gift shop built on a Shopify storefront, summer camps ($75 one-day, $180 three-day), field trips ($10/student), Be a Vet programs ($50–$65), venue rentals ($150–$600 for birthday parties, premium wedding and corporate events), VIP experiences ($150–$300), an annual 5K Kemp's Krawl beach race, an annual "Enchantment Under the Sea" Gala with Diamond/Platinum/Gold sponsorship tiers, charitable donations via PayPal/ACH/stock/estate planning, and an international Global Impact Grant program that has funded over $350,000 across seven countries since 2024. Customer segments include individual visitors and families, schools and educational groups, youth program participants (ages 6–14), event hosts and corporate clients, conservation donors, and international conservation organizations. Beyond the on-site facility, distribution extends through off-site outreach programs at schools, libraries, daycares, and assisted living facilities, as well as virtual learning delivered via Zoom with shipped Be a Vet kits. The organization employs 17 full-time staff (education, conservation/rehab, operations) plus part-time, seasonal, and volunteer support, and is led by CEO Wendy Knight (appointed 2020), Chief Conservation Officer Dr. Amy Bonka, and a Board of Directors chaired by Robin Farris.
Sea Turtle firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sea Turtle
- Legal name
- Sea Turtle, Inc.
- Website
- https://seaturtleinc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sea Turtle Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1977 on South Padre Island, Texas, that rehabilitates, conserves, and educates around endangered sea turtles — particularly the Kemp's ridley — through the world's largest enclosed sea turtle hospital, a bi-national US-Mexico conservation program, and diversified revenue from admissions, memberships, adoptions, programs, events, and grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sea Turtle industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Wildlife Conservation and Rehabilitation Services
- NAICS
- Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB)
Keywords
Where Sea Turtle is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- South Padre Island
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Sea Turtle business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals supporting sea turtle conservation. Includes one-time and recurring donations via PayPal, credit card, ACH bank transfer, or check. Also includes employer matching programs.
- Admission Fees: Visitors pay admission to tour the facility. Off-season (Aug 11 - May 31): Adults $15, Seniors/Military $10, Students $8, Children $5, Infants free. Summer (June 1 - Aug 9): hours extend to 5 PM with same pricing.
- Membership Program: Annual memberships offering ID card, 10% gift shop discount, hatchling and rehabilitated turtle release text/email notifications. Benefits encourage repeat visits and donor engagement.
- Adoptions: Sea turtle nest adoptions support patrols and nest conservation. Patient adoptions fund medical supplies, exams, x-rays, food, and care. Resident adoptions support feeding and medication of permanent resident turtles.
- Gift Shop Sales: Merchandise sales including Sea Turtle Inc branded items. All proceeds directly fund sea turtle care and facility operations.
- Summer Camps and Educational Programs: Revenue from summer camp registrations (1-day $75, 3-day $180), field trips ($10/student and adult), Be a Vet programs ($65), Kids Night Out, birthday parties, and off-site outreach programs.
- Venue Rentals and Event Hosting: Private event hosting including weddings, corporate events, birthday parties. VIP experiences including private tours ($150-$200), behind-the-scenes tours ($200), and private feedings ($250+).
- Stock and Planned Giving: Gifts of stock or mutual funds for tax-advantaged charitable giving. Planned giving through wills, trusts, or estate plans.
- 5K Race and Gala Events: Annual 5K Kemp's Krawl beach race with registration fees and corporate sponsorships. Annual Gala with ticket sales and auction items.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | General Admission - Off Season (Aug 11 - May 31) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | General Admission - Summer Season (June 1 - Aug 9) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Summer Camp Programs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Field Trips |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Be a Vet Virtual Program |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adult Be a Vet Program |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Girl Scout Programs |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Memberships |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Venue Rental - Birthday Parties |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | VIP Experiences |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Commemorative Donations |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels11 records
Sea Turtle product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sea Turtle Inc. rehabilitates sick and injured sea turtles at the world's largest fully-enclosed sea turtle hospital (15,000+ sq ft) on South Padre Island, Texas, and operates daily nesting beach patrols to protect Kemp's ridley sea turtle nests. The organization delivers on-site and virtual marine conservation education programs (field trips, summer camps, Be a Vet, Girl Scouts), runs a visitor attraction with educational presentations, and funds operations through admissions, memberships, adoptions, donations, gift shop sales, venue rentals, and special fundraising events including an annual 5K race and gala.
Product overview
Sea Turtle Inc. is a non-profit sea turtle conservation organization based on South Padre Island, Texas, offering sea turtle rehabilitation services through its world-class hospital facility, public education programs including field trips, summer camps, virtual learning, and Girl Scout programs, conservation services including nesting patrols and hatchling releases, event venue rentals, merchandise sales, and membership/donation programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Zouk: Premium bag brand owned by Sea Turtle (Note: This appears in a separate news source about a different company also named 'Sea Turtle' - homegrown premium bag manufacturer. This may be a different entity than Sea Turtle Inc. conservation organization.)
Products and services
- General Admission Tours
- Annual Membership
- Sea Turtle Adoptions
- Summer Camp Programs
- School Field Trips
- Be a Vet Program
- Girl Scout Programs
- Virtual Learning Programs
- Off-Site Outreach Programs
- Venue Rentals and Event Hosting
- Birthday Party Packages
- VIP Experiences
- 5K Kemp's Krawl Race
- Sea Turtle Inc. Annual Gala
- Gift Shop and Merchandise
- Global Impact Grant Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 40-100+ sea turtles rehabilitated and released annually
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Sea Turtle
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Sea Turtle technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Sea Turtle partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Hilton Garden Inn South Padre IslandcoreOfficial host venue for 5K Kemp's Krawl race and partner hotel. Located at 7010 Padre Blvd offering views, restaurant, room service, and ocean-front pool. Provides accommodations for race participants and event sponsors.
- Courtyard by Marriott South Padre IslandcorePartner hotel for 5K Kemp's Krawl offering fitness center, saltwater pool, and beachfront accommodations. Located at 6700 Padre Blvd.
- Sand Rose Beach ResortcorePartner hotel for race with outdoor pool, bar, restaurant, and beachfront views. Located at 7000 Padre Blvd. Promotional code available for race attendees.
- Green Mountain EnergyminorEnvironmental partnership supporting sea turtle conservation. Green Mountain Energy is a renewable energy provider.
- US Fish & Wildlife ServicecoreSea Turtle Inc. manages the Kemp's ridley sea turtle nest conservation program for USFWS. Federal permit holder for sea turtle handling and rehabilitation activities.
- Government of MexicocoreBi-national collaboration since 1999 to protect Kemp's Ridley sea turtles. Joint efforts between US and Mexico agencies and non-profits including Rancho Nuevo, Tamaulipas, Mexico conservation sites.
- SpaceXminorSpaceX employees trained to preserve sea turtle life in Boca Chica area. Collaboration for environmental protection near rocket launch facilities.
- Texas Parks and WildlifecoreState agency collaboration for sea turtle conservation and rehabilitation in Texas waters. Joint efforts with Scott Boruff, Retired Deputy Executive Director/COO.
- Gladys Porter ZoominorCollaboration with Pat Burchfield, Ph.D., Executive Director/CEO of Gladys Porter Zoo, on board of directors.
- International Conservation OrganizationscoreGlobal Impact Grant program funding high-impact international conservation projects in Colombia, Costa Rica, Haiti, Mexico, and Panama. Focus on hawksbill and leatherback sea turtles with over $350,000 funded across 7 countries.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sea Turtle competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, FL runs a sea turtle hospital, public education programs, nesting patrols, research, and admissions-based visitor exhibits — a closely aligned operating model to Sea Turtle Inc.'s hospital-plus-education-plus-conservation footprint.
- Georgia Sea Turtle Center: Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island is a sea turtle hospital, education center, and research facility offering public programs, exhibits, and rehabilitation services — highly comparable in scope, customer mix, and nonprofit structure.
- The Turtle Hospital (Marathon, FL): The Turtle Hospital operates a dedicated sea turtle rehabilitation hospital in the Florida Keys with public facility tours, admissions, and education programs — directly comparable in mission, facility-based visitor model, and rehab-focused clinical operations.
- Pacific Marine Mammal Center: California-based marine wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and release organization with public education programs — directly comparable in wildlife rehab mission, public engagement, and donor-supported operations.
- Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center: Topsail Beach, NC-based sea turtle hospital offering rehabilitation, education, and public tours — directly overlaps with Sea Turtle Inc.'s medical-rehab-and-public-engagement model.
Regional players
- Gladys Porter Zoo: Brownsville, TX zoo with conservation programming and direct partnership with Sea Turtle Inc. via shared board leadership — adjacent regional wildlife/zoo operation on the Texas–Mexico border with overlapping visitors and conservation mission.
Others
- International Bird Rescue: Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation nonprofit with public engagement and volunteer-based operations — adjacent operating model (wildlife rehab + public-facing nonprofit) without direct species overlap.
Broad incumbents
- Ocean Conservancy: Major U.S.-based marine conservation nonprofit working on policy, research, and grassroots engagement — comparable as a large marine conservation mission operator though not facility-based.
- Clearwater Marine Aquarium: Florida-based marine life rescue and rehabilitation facility with public aquarium operations, education, and research — comparable as a marine wildlife rehab center with broad public engagement and tourism scale.
- Texas State Aquarium: Corpus Christi-based marine life attraction with conservation programs, exhibits, and admissions revenue — comparable regional Gulf Coast operator with broader marine species focus and a larger scale visitor experience.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sea Turtle social profiles
Digital presenceSea Turtle financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sea Turtle leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Sea Turtle funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sea Turtle M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sea Turtle
What does Sea Turtle do?
Sea Turtle Inc. rehabilitates sick and injured sea turtles at the world's largest fully-enclosed sea turtle hospital (15,000+ sq ft) on South Padre Island, Texas, and operates daily nesting beach patrols to protect Kemp's ridley sea turtle nests. The organization delivers on-site and virtual marine conservation education programs (field trips, summer camps, Be a Vet, Girl Scouts), runs a visitor attraction with educational presentations, and funds operations through admissions, memberships, adoptions, donations, gift shop sales, venue rentals, and special fundraising events including an annual 5K race and gala.
Is Sea Turtle a public or private company?
Sea Turtle is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Sea Turtle founded?
Sea Turtle was founded in 1977. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sea Turtle based?
Sea Turtle is headquartered in South Padre Island, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sea Turtle make money?
Nine revenue lines are on record. Donations and Contributions are the primary driver. The others are admission Fees, membership Program, adoptions, gift Shop Sales, summer Camps and Educational Programs, venue Rentals and Event Hosting, stock and Planned Giving and 5K Race and Gala Events.
Who are Sea Turtle's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, The Turtle Hospital (Marathon, FL), Pacific Marine Mammal Center and Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. Gladys Porter Zoo is listed as a regional player. International Bird Rescue is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Ocean Conservancy, Clearwater Marine Aquarium and Texas State Aquarium.
Does Sea Turtle have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sea Turtle.
What industry is Sea Turtle in?
Sea Turtle's product category is Marine Wildlife Conservation and Rehabilitation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAIAC, Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release, with a secondary code of AFAEALAB, Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations. Its NAICS code is 71213 and its SIC code is 7900.