The South Florida Wildlife Center is expanding its rehabilitation efforts of pelicans with a brand new and improved rehabilitation enclosure debuting on Friday.
The modernized pelican rehabilitation habitat will be the last stop at the SFWC for all pelican patients before being released back into the wild.
The height of the enclosure has been increased to about 16 feet to improve flight-conditioning for the birds. It also includes an expanded in-ground swimming pool to help provide rehabilitating pelicans with even more room to dive deep, encouraging their natural behavior in the wild.
Other creature comforts include high-perches and various enrichment items for stimulate movement, flight, rest and socialization, as well as promote much needed exercise and improve feature condition.
As a part of Friday's unveiling, the SFWC also released a group of newly rehabilitated pelicans back into the wild at John U. Loyd Beach.
The South Florida Wildlife Center admits more than 12,000 injured, orphaned or imperiled animals annually with the goal of returning each rehabilitated natural animal back into its natural habitat.
