A group of folks check out a sea turtle while touring the Amos Rehabilitation Keep (ARK) on March 23. Public tours will be discontinued soon at the ARK. South Jetty photo
Public tours at the Amos Rehabilitation Keep (ARK) will be discontinued effective Jan. 1, according to a news release issued by the University of Texas Marine Science Institute.
The discontinuation is “due to a change in permit policies implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for captive species enclosures for birds,” the release said.
“This permit policy implements new regulations for exhibiting the birds to the public. To continue rehabilitating as many birds as it has in the past and pursue its central mission, UTMSI has chosen not to pursue the revised USDA permit for the Amos Rehabilitation Keep, which would require serving fewer birds in its current space in order to exhibit them to the public,” the release said.
The ARK was founded in 1982 by Tony Amos, a UTMSI research fellow, who spent many years rescuing sick and injured animals and caring for them at the institute.
Originally, the facility was called the Animal Rehabilitation Keep. After Amos died in 2017, it was renamed the Amos Rehabilitation Keep.
Public tours of ARK facilities began in 2021.
The ARK will continue rescuing sick and injured birds, sea turtles, terrestrial turtles and tortoises from Mustang and San Jose Island, according to the news release.
“The Amos Rehabilitation Keep has been a valuable resource for both education and conservation efforts, allowing the public to gain insight into the rehabilitation process and the importance of preserving local wildlife,” the release said. “UTMSI recognizes the significance of community engagement and has been grateful for the support received over the years.”
Tours at the ARK have been a staple of the annual Whooping Crane Festival in Port Aransas over the years. Those tours won’t happen at the next festival. However, UTMSI will assist the festival by offering programming about the ARK at the institute’s Wetlands Education Center, according to Sally Palmer, a UTMSI spokesman.
The decision to cease public tours “aligns with UTMSI’s commitment to upholding the highest animal care and welfare standards,” the news release said. “By refraining from obtaining a USDA permit at this time, the institute ensures that the focus remains on the well-being and rehabilitation of the animals under its care.”
UTMSI “looks forward to finding alternative ways to engage with the public in the future,” the release said.
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