The SanCap Kiwanis Club was happy to host Kelly Sloan, Sea Turtle Program Coordinator at the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF), as the featured speaker at this week’s meeting. Sloan delivered a comprehensive overview of sea turtle biology, local conservation history, and the urgent challenges facing these iconic marine animals.
Sloan traced the history of sea turtle monitoring on Sanibel and Captiva, which began with Charles LeBuff in the 1950s and transitioned to SCCF in 1992. Today, a dedicated team of staff and volunteers conducts daily patrols and nest monitoring, contributing thousands of hours each season. While nest counts have increased since 2014, hatching success has declined, with coyotes and storm impacts posing significant challenges.
The program also emphasized recent successes, including the downlisting of green turtles to a species of least concern, and the importance of continued research and community involvement. SCCF’s work includes satellite tracking, nest relocations, and public education to protect sea turtles for future generations.
For more information about SanCap Kiwanis and upcoming speakers, visit sancapkiwanis.org
