Tony Amos at the unveiling of a sign proclaiming the stretch of shoreline at Beach Access Road 1 in Port Aransas Tony Amos Beach. Courtesy photo
A portion of the beach near Beach Access Road 1 in Port Aransas has been named Tony Amos Beach in honor of the well-known naturalist. A research fellow with the University of Texas Marine Science Center and founder of the Animal Rehabilitation Keep, Amos recently received a national award for his work rescuing sea life in the Coastal Bend. The Port Aransas City Council approved the naming at a meeting last September. A sign announcing the new name was unveiled Feb. 13.
Amos has conducted regular surveys of the Port Aransas coastline on Mustang Island since 1978. He has rescued and rehabilitated thousands of sea turtles and other wildlife over the years. His work was recently recognized on a national scale when he was named the Southwest Region’s 2014 Recovery Champion by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in December, 2015.
“I enjoy doing it, though sometimes, it’s stressful work,” Amos said of his daily monitoring of the beach and its ever changing condition. “It’s challenging, too, but rewarding. We see these animals and appreciate their beauty and vulnerability.”
The ARK depends on private donations to keep going. Anyone interesting in making a donation or volunteering should contact Friends of the ARK.
