WATCH: Brevard Zoo Treats Massive Loggerhead Sea Turtle ‘Perseverance’ at Healing Center

By  //  August 10, 2020

named 'Perseverance' after NASA Mars rover

ABOVE VIDEO: Brevard Zoo veterinarians recently treated a massive loggerhead sea turtle patient named “Perseverance” at the Sea Turtle Healing Center.

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Brevard Zoo veterinarians recently treated a massive loggerhead sea turtle patient named “Perseverance” at the Sea Turtle Healing Center.

When Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission received reports of an adult loggerhead sea turtle roaming the beach struggling to nest at Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge for several consecutive nights, they reached out to the Brevard Zoo Sea Turtle Healing Center for help.

“Fortunately, this huge sea turtle had already been tagged by researchers, so FWC was able to gather some background information on her,” said Brevard Zoo officials.

She was observed nesting without issue in both 2016 and 2018, which is normal as loggerhead sea turtles typically lay eggs every other year.

An initial exam on the beach showed abnormalities such as weakness, swelling, and an old, healed injury on the right rear portion of her shell.

Shortly after midnight on Friday, seven “sea turtle champions” from the Healing Center, University of Central Florida and Brevard County Ocean Rescue were on hand to retrieve and transport this massive reptile.

BCOR provided a UTV to help get her off the beach and into a Zoo van.

“She arrived at the Brevard Zoo around 2:30 a.m. and underwent an intake exam later that morning, weighing in at a whopping 347 pounds—making her one of our largest patients ever!” said Brevard Zoo officials.

She was named Perseverance after NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover that was launched on Thursday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

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Brevard Zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center Rescues Adult Loggerhead Sea Turtle ‘Perseverance’

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