Pictured: Donna Howe, our board chair, with the Galveston Gal.

By Joanie Steinhaus, Campaign Director of our Gulf Office

Working to save an endangered species is not a sprint but a marathon, with long uphill sections, into a strong blue northern cold front with no shoes on. But it is a marathon worth running.

Last month, the effort of individuals, organizations, foundations and city, state and federal governments to save our state sea turtle, the Kemp’s ridley, was recognized when a bronze sea turtle sculpture was placed on the Galveston Seawall in Galveston, Texas.

This sculpture was the dream of long time sea turtle activist and TIRN board member, Carole Allen. She too recognized it was not a race you would win alone.

To everyone who attended the dedication, thank you for being part of this special day in sea turtle conservation on the upper Texas coast, and for those of you who were not able to attend please stop by the 4600 block of the seawall and visit the Galveston Gal.

Help us patrol the Texas coast for sea turtle nests. Interested? Email turtlepatrol@tirn.net. We patrol over 72 miles of beach. And in addition to looking for evidence of nesting turtles, our volunteers find stranded turtles, injured birds, dolphins, an other coastal wildlife. Volunteers must attend an onsite training course in either February or March.

GalvestonGal