A bronze, life-size leatherback sea turtle sculpture by Pamela Blotner and John Pearson is having its ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 5 p.m. Leatherbacks can grow to 8 feet long and weigh up to 2,000 pounds.
Located at Avila Beach Community Park adjacent to the corner of Front and San Juan streets, the event will serve as a “formal introduction of the landmark to the Avila Beach community and a rally for marine conservation,” Upwell Multimedia Communications Associate Kayla Sargent explained via email. “Many Avila Beach residents are unaware that the world’s largest sea turtle frequents local waters to forage on abundant jellyfish.”
The sculpture offers visitors a ”unique opportunity to come face-to-face with one of the ocean’s most enigmatic species,” Sargent added.
Nonprofit Upwell’s mission is to protect and recover endangered turtle populations through research and conservation, as well as raise public awareness.
“These massive reptiles migrate over 7,000 miles from nesting beaches in the tropical West Pacific to the California coast, arriving between June and November to feast on seasonal prey,” Upwell announced. “With the West Pacific population critically endangered and as few as 1,500 mature individuals remaining, every conservation effort is vital to the species’ survival. … The striking life-size bronze sculpture serves as a poignant reminder that these magnificent animals are not merely symbols of nature but living neighbors in our Pacific waters.”
This article appears in Oct 15-22, 2026.
