Tony Amos, founder and director of Animal Rehabilitation Keep in Port Aransas, prepares to release a rehabilitated sea turtle into the waters off Mustang Island. Photo by Lee Harrison
As water temperatures drop in the bays and canals behind the island barriers of the Coastal Bend, the dangers to marine animals, especially endangered sea turtles, rise. Fortunately for the sea creatures in Port Aransas and Corpus Christi, they have a champion rescuer who has helped saved thousands of animal lives over his 36 years in the area.
A native of Great Britain, Tony Amos constantly combs area waterways for injured and trapped wildlife. The founder and director of the Animal Rehabilitation Keep in Port Aransas doesn’t start worrying about one of the biggest issues on the coast — cold-stunned turtles — until temperatures drop below 60 degrees. Unlike this time last year, that hasn’t happened yet.
“Last year, the colder weather started in November,” Amos told Corpus Christi Business News. “I can’t predict what kind of winter we’ll have, but I don’t think it will be as bad as last year.”
Amos was recently honored as the Southwest Region’s 2014 Recovery Champion by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Each year, Fish and Wildlife honors those whose work has advanced the recovery of endangered and threatened species of plants and animals.
Part of that recognition is for the work he does collecting data, which is used by the University of Texas Marine Science Institute, where Amos is a research fellow. He has been an oceanographer since 1963 and was a research associate for the Port Aransas-based marine science institute until he retired in 2003 — although “retire” is not really part of this naturalist’s vocabulary.
At 78, Amos is an integral part an impressive team of volunteers and staff that monitors Coastal Bend waterways around the clock, 365 days a year. The need increases with the rise in global temperatures, Amos said.
“In general, sea waters are warming, so the turtles that feed on algae will stay over in the winter. There’s plenty of food and the waters are warmer,” Amos said. “Then, we get a cold front coming through that reduces the temperature rapidly and that hits them hard.”
The cold literally stuns the turtles so they can no longer propel themselves through the water. They will either wash up on shore or float on the surface. When spotted, these turtles are taken in and slowly warmed up at the ARK until the weather improves. They are released on the beaches of Padre Island National Seashore when temperatures allow. Gulf waters are warmer than those in the bays and canals, where most of the cold-stunned turtles are found.
To report cold-stunned turtles at or near the Upper Laguna Madre and North Padre Island, call (361) 949-8173, ext. 226 during business hours or (361) 876-8462 after hours.
Cold-stunned turtles around Corpus Christi Bay and Mustang Island should be reported to (361) 749-6793 during the day or Amos at (361) 442-7638 after hours.
A trained volunteer or staff member will be on sight as soon as possible to assess the situation and take the creatures back for possible rehabilitation. Last year, 770 cold-stunned turtles were rescued from around the Coastal Bend.
“Please leave it to us to physically touch the turtles,” Amos said. “They are covered by Endangered Species Act, and most people know you are not supposed to touch sea turtles unless it’s an emergency to save the turtle’s life.”
While the ARK is partially funded by the University of Texas, much of its money comes from donations and through fundraisers. Friends of the ARK is a nonprofit organization formed to help facilitate fundraising efforts, holding several events a year. The group’s mission includes education and volunteer recruitment.
The many people involved in animal rescue through Friends of the ARK share Amos’ passion for wildlife, he said.
“We see these animals and appreciate their beauty and vulnerability,” he said when asked why he devotes so much of his life to this cause. “You do it to address the carelessness of society in general that occurs through reducing the amount of habitat and changing the habitat. It’s all part of the great scheme of one species helping another. I enjoy doing it, though sometimes, it’s stressful work. It’s challenging, too, but rewarding.”
Anyone who would like help by volunteering and/or donating money may contact Friends of the ARK through its website at friendsoftheark.org. The next big fundraiser, Spring for the ARK, is set for May 7.
