Sea Turtle Center
The Only Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in the Midwest
Each winter, when water temperatures drop, hundreds of endangered and threatened sea turtles “strand” or wash up on land. Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri, has been honored to serve as the only rehabilitation center in the midwest over the past four years. Through partnerships with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Turtles Fly Too, Wonders of Wildlife has provided critical care for 64 sea turtles (loggerhead, greens, and Kemp's ridley) before releasing them back into the wild.
In Memory of
Peter Graham
“WOW is honored to once again be helping cold stunned sea turtles, sea turtles are a keystone species in the ocean and are vital to the long-term health of that ecosystem. Turtles have many jobs in the wild – from gardeners that tend the sea grass beds and prevent overgrowth, care takers of coral reefs eating sponges that could harm corals, and are vehicles for dozens of species like barnacles, crabs, and algae that travel on their backs to different parts of the world where they breed and thrive. Sea turtles are also pivotal to the health of beaches and sea oats that utilize the nutrients from old nests to grow and prevent erosion.”
– Mike Daniel, Director of Animal Care
Sea Turtle Center Blog
ARTICLES
2025
19 Rescued Sea Turtles Released Off the Coast of Florida
After 13 weeks of critical rehabilitation at our Wonders of Wildlife Sea Turtle Center, we are thrilled to share a heartwarming milestone: 19 rescued sea turtles have returned to their home in the ocean! Read the full story by clicking the link below.
A Continued Mission
The latest group of 20 loggerhead and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles arrived in Springfield, Missouri, on Saturday, December 21, following a dramatic increase in sea turtle strandings along the northeastern U.S. coast due to rapidly dropping ocean temperatures. Read the full story by clicking the link below.
2024
Turtle Tracker
We are tagging along with five of our rehabilitated sea turtles! Since their release back into the ocean, we are tracking their movements with SPOT-375 tags. You can follow their path as they venture out across the sea. Each turtle carries a unique story of resilience and hope. Learn more about our Sea Turtle Center and the efforts to help rescue sea turtles by visiting our blog!
Turtle Treks
For the first time ever, Wonders of Wildlife will be able to track five recently released sea turtle residents of the Johnny Morris Sea Turtle Center. Location trackers were placed on the shells of five loggerhead sea turtles, thanks to a generous grant from the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund. Read the full story by clicking the link below.
Sea Turtles Return Once Again
The Wonders of Wildlife Team partners with US Fish and Wildlife and Turtles Fly Too once again to help rehabilitate a group of Loggerhead sea turtles, Green sea turtles and Kemp's ridley sea turtles. Read the full story by clicking the link below.
2023
Return To The Sea
The Wonders of Wildlife Team partners with US Fish and Wildlife and Turtles Fly Too and help return the Loggerheads to the ocean in Spring of 2023. Read the full story by clicking the link below.
New Year Sea Turtle Rescue
The Life Sciences team conduct their first round of medical checkups on the 10 Loggerhead turtles. Read the full story by clicking the link below.
New Year Sea Turtle Rescue
Ten cold-stunned sea turtles made the journey from the Northeast to the Midwest to receive critical care and long-term rehabilitation. Read the full story by clicking the link below.
2022
A Continued Mission
The Midwest's only Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center will be a temporary home for 8 loggerheads over the next few months. Our team of animal care experts will be helping them around the clock to recover and rehabilitate before being released them back into the wild. Read the full story by clicking the link below.
2021
The Turtles Have Arrived
Just in time for Christmas, 12 cold-stunned loggerhead sea turtles arrived at Wonders of Wildlife. The turtles arrived from Cape Cod, flying over 1,200 miles to get here. Read the full story by clicking the link below.
Medical Exams
Last Wednesday, Wonders of Wildlife’s 12 loggerhead sea turtle rescues underwent their biggest medical exam to-date. Read the full story by clicking the link below.
Sea Turtle Release
Twelve endangered loggerhead sea turtles were successfully released back to their native habitat in the Atlantic Ocean on April 6th, 2021. Read the full story by clicking the link below.
ADOPT AN ANIMAL
Stay connected to the 35,000 live animals that call Wonders of Wildlife home with a symbolic animal adoption. In exchange for your generous support, you’ll receive a one-of-a-kind package from the Aquarium to commemorate your care.
Rescue Effort Made Possible By:
