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THE longest beach in the country is also the most important to the world’s most endangered sea turtle.
Texas’ Padre Island National Seashore, a 66-mile-long coastline that crawls along the Gulf of Mexico, is the longest region of undeveloped barrier island in the world.
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With over 130,000 acres of wild territory, the seashore is home to nature and wildlife, including Kemp’s Ridley, the most endangered sea turtle in the world.
According to the National Park Foundation, the seashore has been “a participant in a bi-national, multi-agency effort to save the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle since 1978.”
“The park also participates in global efforts to recover the populations of four other threatened and endangered sea turtle species,” the foundation added.
The species, which once thrived in the Gulf of Mexico, is also the world’s smallest sea turtle.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Kemp Ridley’s nesting population experienced a dramatic decline between the 1940s and 1980s.
“The number of nests reached a record low of 702 in 1985, representing fewer than 250 nesting females,” the organization said.
“Due to intensive conservation actions, the Kemp’s Ridley began to slowly rebound during the 1990s.”
While the species began to make a rebound with an increase of about 15 percent in nests in the 90s, the progress in the number of nests began to fluctuate in 2010.
On-site conservation efforts include finding and incubating Kemp’s Ridley eggs found on the coast.
Once hatched, the juvenile sea turtles are released into the Gulf of Mexico.
Visitors on Padre Island can attend hatchling releases for free.
Staff at Padre Island National Seashore host release events from May to September.
Visitors can check for upcoming hatchling release events on the National Park Service’s calendar or call the Hatchling Hotline at 361-949-7163.
Alongside Kemp’s Ridley, Padre Island is also home to over 350 species of birds, countless marine and plant life, and turtles, including Green, Loggerhead, and Leatherback turtles.
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With over half a million visitors annually, the island is a hot spot for nature and wildlife fans.
Outdoor enthusiasts can also enjoy the shoreline’s water activities, including swimming, snorkeling, windsurfing, and scuba diving.
Padre Island National Seashore is open seven days a week year-round.
The island’s visitor center closes twice yearly, on Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Entry into the seashore costs $15 per person, $10 per vehicle per day, and $25 per vehicle for a week’s stay.
Visitors can also purchase an annual pass for $45.
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