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Clearwater Marine Aquarium

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Education & Resources

Report An Animal

Reporting sick or injured animals is absolutely vital in aiding in the conservation efforts of all sorts of marine species. There are a number of steps you can take to make a difference.

What to do if you find a stranded animal

Whether it’s a beached dolphin or a sea turtle tangled in fishing line, there are a number of steps you can take to make sure a stranded animal has a strong chance of survival.

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Observe

Before you step in and try to grab an animal, it’s important to be aware of the situation. Is the animal really stranded? Some species of seals and sea lions come on shore to rest, and almost all species of sea turtles lay their nests on beaches. Make sure you aren’t disturbing an animal’s natural behavior.

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Call

If you notice the animal is struggling, there are a number of organizations listed here you can reach out to in order to let the right people know an animal is in danger and needs assistance. Contact CMA’s 24-hr Rescue Hotline at 727 441-1790 x 1 if you find any marine animal in distress in the Tampa Bay Area.

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Inform

While you’re speaking to responders, make sure to describe both your location and the animal very carefully. Being specific about where you are means a response team will be able to step in and help faster, which means the animal is more likely to be saved.

Call Now

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Clearwater Marine Aquarium
249 Windward Passage
Clearwater, FL 33767
727-441-1790

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A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM, A FL-BASED NONPROFIT CORPORATION (REGISTRATION NO. CH352), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE OR BY VISITING www.800helpfla.com. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. Federal Tax ID#: 59-2086737.

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