240-Pound Sea Turtle Gets Life-Saving Care in Long Beach

When volunteers spotted a 240-pound sea turtle trapped in fishing line in the San Gabriel River this January, they knew every second counted. Meatloaf, a green sea turtle as wide as a manhole cover, had severely damaged her front flipper after abandoned fishing gear cut off her blood supply.

The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California quickly brought her in for emergency care. Dr. Lance Adams, Director of Veterinary Services, has performed multiple surgeries over the past two months to save her flipper.

"We have been doing all we can, including surgery to try and save the flipper," Adams said. "It is showing some early promising signs of healing."

Meatloaf's flipper currently measures twice its normal size due to fluid buildup that will need additional surgery. The veterinary team plans to keep her for at least six more months as they continue treating her wounds.

The aquarium is one of only two facilities in Southern California equipped to rehabilitate sea turtles. Meatloaf joins a growing list of marine animals rescued from ghost traps (abandoned fishing gear) this year, including eight seals in Rhode Island and a rare Kemp's ridley sea turtle in Florida.

The Ripple Effect

Meatloaf's recovery could inspire better practices around fishing gear disposal. Her story shines a light on the dangers ghost traps pose to ocean life, potentially drowning animals by dragging them underwater.

The facility recently celebrated another success story. Porkchop, a three-flippered green sea turtle, returned to the wild in February and has already been spotted swimming with other sea turtles.

The aquarium needs to raise $50,000 to cover Meatloaf's ongoing surgeries and care. Supporters can contribute through the Aquarium of the Pacific's fundraiser page.

Visitors can now watch Meatloaf's progress in person at the aquarium's new sea turtle rehabilitation area, where she's become one of the largest patients they've ever treated.

The team hopes Meatloaf will follow Porkchop's path back to the ocean.