About the Founder
Amanda Ebenhack has dedicated more than 25 years to the rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation of turtles and tortoises. Originally from Oregon, where she was a legal investigator, she moved to sunny Florida in her 30s, where her passion for chelonians truly flourished.
Her journey began while fishing, when she started noticing turtles and quickly became fascinated by them. From that moment on, she was “bitten by the turtle bug.” Eager to learn everything she could, Amanda volunteered at a reptile clinic and several wildlife rehabilitation centers, gaining years of hands-on experience caring for injured and sick reptiles.
As her knowledge and expertise grew, Amanda became recognized for her work with turtles and tortoises. In 2013, she authored ” Healthcare and rehabilitation of Turtles and Tortoises”, sharing her experience to help others provide better care for these remarkable creatures.
Today, Amanda is a state-licensed wildlife rehabilitator specializing in the treatment and rehabilitation of severe injuries in Florida’s native turtles and tortoises. She is also the founder of Central Florida Wildlife Center, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, where she operates a six-acre sanctuary dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation of chelonians.
When she’s not caring for the animals at the sanctuary, Amanda is passionate about art, Karate and educating the public and mentoring the next generation of wildlife rehabilitators, helping others develop the knowledge and skills needed to care for turtles and tortoises with compassion and expertise. Her mission is to ensure that every animal has the best possible chance to heal and return to the wild while inspiring others to protect Florida’s incredible native wildlife.
Gerry-Anna spent her childhood on Florida’s west coast, where a lifelong love of animals first took hold. Her career later brought her to Oregon, where she worked in the non-profit sector and volunteered in parrot rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, animal sheltering, and at the Oregon Zoo. Her first paid animal role eventually brought her back to Florida as a bird trainer at a major theme park.
Now based in Lakewood Park, Gerry-Anna helps people train their pets through her business Goldstar Puppy Academy. But her passion project is Gopher Tortoise conservation and she’s’ even training her own Gopher Tortoise detection K9, Echo, to aid in conservation projects and relocation.
In 2021, she founded the Tortoise Team of Indian River County and a year later, helped launch the Gopher Tortoise Alliance, a non-profit dedicated to protecting Gopher Tortoises through education, advocacy, and stewardship. She recently connected with us at Central Florida Wildlife and has been volunteering ever since!
We’re excited to have her on our team and look forward to what’s ahead.
Sue Aoki is a retired Army veteran and registered nurse, roles that speak volumes about her dedication to service, discipline, and compassion. Nursing didn’t just give Sue clinical skills, it sharpened her ability to stay calm under pressure, assess needs quickly, and provide thoughtful care to those who depend on her. That same mindset carries directly into wildlife rehabilitation, where patience, observation, and empathy are everything.
Sue has already devoted eight years volunteering with a wildlife sanctuary she brings an incredible depth of experience to her apprenticeship. Additionally, Sue is a gopher tortoise agent, combining formal knowledge with a lifelong passion for conservation.
Most importantly, Sue’s love for tortoises goes all the way back to childhood. That kind of long-standing curiosity and respect for wildlife is exactly what makes a great rehabber.
We’re excited to have her learning, growing, and contributing at Central FL Wildlife Center, and we’re grateful for the experience and perspective she brings to our team. Sue we’re so glad you’re here!
Shelly grew up on a farm in Kansas, where caring for animals was simply part of everyday life. That early hands-on experience shaped a lifelong respect for animals and the responsibility that comes with caring for them.
More recently, Shelly spent nearly two years volunteering at a wildlife sanctuary, where her passion for wildlife rehabilitation deepened—especially for tortoises and turtles. While she loved working with many species, it was a gentle sulcata tortoise that truly captured her heart and set her on a new path.
Wanting to focus her efforts where her passion was strongest, Shelly made the decision to dedicate herself to helping tortoises and turtles. With encouragement from her friend Sue, she took the next step and was introduced to Amanda—marking the beginning of her journey into focused chelonian rehabilitation and conservation. Shelly now volunteers at Central Florida Wildlife Center and we look forward to working together!
