ORI Partner: Sunshine Wildlife Tours

ORI Relationship
In October 2008, Sunshine Wildlife Tours contacted ORI to act as fiscal agent for educational efforts on the Indian River Lagoon.  SWT also received support in our mission to achieve better signage and protection for two island bird rookeries in the lagoon, home to endangered and threatened species.

Dolphins play in the wake of a Sunshine Wildlife Tour.

Overview
Sunshine Wildlife began in 2000 in response to a need for educational awareness of our fragile ecosystems, the nurseries for all juvenile life in our oceans.  We provide on-water ecology tours of the Indian River Lagoon to school groups, community members, and tourists.  Since we began conducting tours, we have observed major declines in habitat and wildlife.

Wood Storks roosting in mangrove treees

Location: The east coast of South Florida on the Manatee Pocket in Stuart, where the Saint L:ucie River and the Indian River Lagoon meet.  Located 30 minutes north of West Palm Beach.

Related Activities: Sunshine Wildlife Tours provides many fund raising tours to aid community groups such as the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center.  We provide boats and staff at little or not cost for island clean-ups, re-vegetation island projects and oyster restoration.

SWT works with Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute’s Wild Dolphin Project on location and to rescue injured marine mammals, as well as with research and health assessment program.  SWT rescues injured and sick marine birds that we then transport to Treasure Coast Wildlife Hospital.

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