The Brevard Zoo has announced a $5 million gift from the DSF Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic vehicle of the David Scaife family, in support of the Sea Turtle Care Complex at the future Aquarium and Conservation Center in Port Canaveral, Florida. 

The aquarium will be a second campus for Brevard Zoo, and the sea turtle rehabilitation facility will be named the Scaife Family Sea Turtle Care Complex in honor of the foundation’s gift. The 13,000-square-foot complex will feature a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital equipped with advanced rehabilitation and clinical capabilities and an outdoor lagoon habitat that will provide long-term sanctuary for rehabilitated turtles that cannot be released due to permanent health conditions.

According to the zoo, Brevard County is one of the world’s most important areas for sea turtles. Five of the world’s seven sea turtle species—green, loggerhead, leatherback, hawksbill, and Kemp’s ridley—use the county’s ocean and waterways, and its beaches are the world’s largest hotspot for loggerhead nesting. 

“Our family has a tradition of supporting zoos throughout the United States,” said DSF Charitable Foundation trustee Sara D. Scaife. “This project will only enhance Brevard Zoo’s reputation as a must-see destination. In addition to being a source of fun for families, the new aquarium will also serve as a major driver for regional economic development.” 

(Photo credit: Getty Images/passion4nature)