Loggerhead Sea Turtle ‘Cinnamon’ Finds New Home at Brevard Zoo After Being Stranded

suffered multiple severe cranial fractures, was missing half of its front left flipper

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – The Brevard Zoo found Cinnamon, a loggerhead sea turtle,  stranded with multiple severe cranial fractures as a result from an interaction with most likely a boat propeller.

The fracture exposed the jaw muscles of the left side of their head and ran above their left eye. Luckily the eye is still healthy and unharmed.

Cinnamon was also missing half of its front left flipper, presumably from the same interaction. The Rockledge Regional Medical Center was able to get this turtle in for CT immediately.

The CT showed multiple fractures of the neurocranium (the skeletal structure that holds the brain) in addition to what could be seen externally. The Brevard Zoo did not see any signs of damage to the brain, despite the fractures to the casing, so they continued with treatments on this patient.

The vet staff was able to clean the head wound and manipulate the flap of the skull back into its proper position. Cinnamon does well in water but has not shown interest in eating yet.

Cinnamon is a  very heavy sleeper and has been keeping volunteers and staff on their toes, thinking the worst, but all it takes is a gentle scratch on the shell and will wake right up. Then Cinnamon turns around with a look that says, “Can I help you!?”…

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