Sea Turtle

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.

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

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

• Sea turtle conservation
• Wildlife rehabilitation services
• Marine conservation education
• Environmental education programs
• Conservation nonprofit services

Headquarters

HQ city

South Padre Island

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Gift Shop Sales: Merchandise sales including Sea Turtle Inc branded items. All proceeds directly fund sea turtle care and facility operations.
6. 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.
7. 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+).
8. Stock and Planned Giving: Gifts of stock or mutual funds for tax-advantaged charitable giving. Planned giving through wills, trusts, or estate plans.
9. 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

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core 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

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hilton Garden Inn South Padre IslandcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 September 2026Official 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 IslandcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 September 2026Partner hotel for 5K Kemp's Krawl offering fitness center, saltwater pool, and beachfront accommodations. Located at 6700 Padre Blvd.
• Sand Rose Beach ResortcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 September 2026Partner hotel for race with outdoor pool, bar, restaurant, and beachfront views. Located at 7000 Padre Blvd. Promotional code available for race attendees.
• Green Mountain EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 December 2023Environmental partnership supporting sea turtle conservation. Green Mountain Energy is a renewable energy provider.
• US Fish & Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSea 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 MexicocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBi-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.
• SpaceXminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpaceX employees trained to preserve sea turtle life in Boca Chica area. Collaboration for environmental protection near rocket launch facilities.
• Texas Parks and WildlifecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency collaboration for sea turtle conservation and rehabilitation in Texas waters. Joint efforts with Scott Boruff, Retired Deputy Executive Director/COO.
• Gladys Porter ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Pat Burchfield, Ph.D., Executive Director/CEO of Gladys Porter Zoo, on board of directors.
• International Conservation OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/SeaTurtleInc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/seaturtletx
• Facebookfacebook.com/SeaTurtleConservation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sea-turtle-inc-
• Instagraminstagram.com/seaturtleinctx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sea Turtle