A huge green sea turtle is making its long-awaited debut at the Aquarium of the Pacific after getting a second chance at life.
Meatloaf was rescued from the San Gabriel River back on January 14, tangled in fishing line and rope and stuck to debris in the river. The line had cut off blood flow to one of her front flippers, causing major damage.
After being rescued, the turtle was transferred to the aquarium for emergency medical care and evaluation. Veterinarians there performed surgery in an effort to save the damaged flipper.
Right now, Meatloaf weighs more than 200 pounds, and she’s thriving in a special rehabilitation pool, with the end goal of eventually returning to the wild.
The Aquarium’s sea turtle rescue work
The Aquarium of the Pacific plays a key role in sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation in SoCal, as it’s one of only two facilities in the region with dedicated space to treat these species when injured.
The new space, which opened earlier this year, includes an approximately 4,000-gallon medical pool designed to help turtles recover safely. Visitors can also learn about conservation efforts through educational audio-visual displays inside the exhibit.
How you can help Meatloaf and future rescued turtles
The Aquarium of the Pacific is asking for public support to help fund this work. Donations to its Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Program go directly toward medical care, equipment, and rehabilitation for Meatloaf and other rescued turtles in the future.
Also, if you ever see a stranded sea turtle in the wild, experts urge you not to intervene directly. Instead, report it immediately to the West Coast Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Network hotline at 562-506-4315.
