ARK

The TMMSN-CC Club began volunteering at the ARK in 1997, long before the club became the WCRC. Now that we have expanded our horizons, the WCRC still continues to give a large portion of our time to the ARK. Many students even respond to rescues and transport the injured animals to the ARK. Every couple of weeks the WCRC also gives a great deal of time committing most of the day to cleaning the turtle tanks, helping with feeding of the animals, weighing and measuring the turtles, and even releasing the animals. The students get hands-on experience and Tony Amos is full of knowledge that he is more than willing to share with our students. This is a great opportunity to lend a hand to conservation and rehabilitation. Please check the Calendar of Events for ARK dates.

The Animal Rehabilitation Keep (ARK), located in Port Aransas at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute, is a volunteer organization that cares for wildlife by implementing, conducting and supporting rehabilitation and release programs.

Wildlife rehabilitation began at UTMSI over 20 years ago when in the process of their research began to find injured animals on the beaches and in the local environment. What began then with a few animals a year has grown into a program that admitted over 450 birds and 90 sea turtles in the year 2000 and has become the largest wildlife rehabilitation facility on the South Texas Coast. More than 75% of the sea turtles were released back into the wild. Some of the animals are still in their care and a few can never be released because of the severity of their injuries.

It is important to minimize the contact with the animals by handling them as little as possible and to provide a sense of security and lack of stress. This is why one of the main goals of the ARK is to create enclosures that resemble their natural environment as closely as possible. These enclosures are very expensive to build and why it is important for monetary contribution from the public.

Volunteers are the backbone of ARK operations. Without the twice-daily shifts of volunteers (365 days a year), the ARK would not be able to function. Volunteers continue to show amazing dedication and enthusiasm towards helping the animals by working in extreme weather and not so glamorous (cleaning cages, etc.) working conditions. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the ARK at 361-749-6793.