In The News

Cayman Turtle Centre Wraps Up Earth Month with Record‑Breaking Turtle Crawl 5k and Earth Day Turtle Release

Cayman Turtle Centre proudly concluded Earth Month with two events celebrating conservation, community, and Cayman’s natural heritage: the Turtle Crawl 5K Walk & Run on April 26th and an Earth Day turtle release observed on April 30th.

Now in its 6th year, the Turtle Crawl 5K achieved its largest turnout to date, welcoming approximately 500 participants. The early‑morning event brought together families, competitive athletes, conservation supporters, and community leaders in a shared show of support for sea turtle conservation.

This year’s race was emceed by Shona McGill, alongside Tex from Stingray Media’s Cay Country 93.5, helping to energize participants and spectators alike.

Top finishers were a tie between 1st Place Male: Gustavo Silva / Mike McDonald and 1st Place Female: Bee Groenewald

Fundraising from Turtle Crawl 5k will directly support expanded veterinary care at the Centre.

“The funds raised this year will help us take a major step forward in animal care,” said Dr. Navi, Veterinarian at Cayman Turtle Centre. “Most notably, we are directing proceeds toward the purchase of a portable radiograph machine, which will significantly enhance our diagnostic capabilities and allow us to provide even better medical treatment for sea turtles and other animals in our care.”

The 2026 Turtle Crawl marked the first year the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability served as the presenting sponsor, a milestone that underscored the strong connection between environmental protection, public health, and national wellbeing. Their support elevated the visibility of the event while reinforcing that conservation remains a shared priority for the Cayman Islands.

Cayman Turtle Centre also extended heartfelt thanks to all event sponsors and companies who donated raffle prizes, whose generosity contributed greatly to the success of this year’s fundraising efforts.

Staff and volunteers from across the Centre played a critical role in delivering the event, working together for months in advance.

“A huge THANK YOU to all our incredible volunteers and team members who contributed in any way to the preparation and execution of the Turtle Crawl 5K Walk & Run 2026,” said Carlington, Assistant Manager - Restaurants & Events. “Your time, energy, and dedication made this event a true success. I hope you enjoyed being part of it as much as we appreciated having you, hopefully with a little less soreness than I’m feeling right now. Wishing you all a blessed and wonderful week ahead!”

Participants and supporters are encouraged to relive the excitement of the Turtle Crawl 5K by viewing and sharing event photos on Cayman Turtle Centre’s social media channels. A dedicated Facebook album featuring photos from the entire Turtle Crawl 5K Walk & Run is now live.

Turtle Crawl 5K Sponsors: Ministry of Health, Environment & Sustainability; Advance Fire; Bluewater Medical; Coca Cola; Composed Media; Corporate Electric; Crown Events; Double M. Distribution; Gatorade; Health City; High Impact; Howard Industries; Oasis Medical Group; Radio Cayman; Stingray Media; Taino Chips; Trends; Yani’s Photography. 

Throughout Earth Month, the Centre also celebrated hands‑on conservation action, culminating in the Earth Day Turtle release of Marvin and Buddy, two head started green sea turtles experiencing the wild for their very first time.

“Releasing Marvin and Buddy at the close of Earth Month was a powerful reminder of why we do what we do,” said Tiffany Dixon-Ebanks the Chief Marketing & Merchandising Officer of Cayman Turtle Centre. “They represent hope, resilience, and the impact that education, care, and community support can have. Every turtle we release is a shared victory for conservation and for the future of our oceans.”

Cayman Turtle Centre thanks everyone who participated, volunteered, sponsored, or cheered from the sidelines. Together, the community once again proved that every effort counts—and everyone can be a conservationist.

Earth Day Turtle Release Sponsors: Cayman Airways; This is Cayman (Vagabond).