Brevard Zoo, Orlando Health Team Up to Save 140-Pound Loggerhead Turtle Filled With Fishing Hooks in the Indian River Lagoon

Sophia, a female loggerhead sea turtle weighing approximately 140 pounds, was rescued in May after she was found stranded in the Indian River Lagoon. She arrived at the East Coast Zoological Foundation’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center at Brevard Zoo in critical condition with multiple fractures to her carapace, or upper shell, and a fishing line attached to a hook protruding from her mouth.

During Sophia’s initial examination, the rehabilitation team cleaned and treated her external injuries before performing a CT scan and endoscopy to determine the extent of her internal injuries. What veterinarians discovered was even more alarming.

The scans revealed approximately 18 additional fishing hooks lodged throughout Sophia’s digestive tract.

Veterinarians were able to immediately remove two of the hooks, but many others were deeply embedded and beyond the reach of the specialized equipment available at the Zoo.

That’s when Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital stepped in.

The hospital provided advanced medical equipment and partnered with the Zoo’s veterinary team to perform a specialized minimally invasive procedure. The collaboration brought together the expertise of the Zoo’s board-certified veterinarians and Orlando Health physicians experienced in gastroenterology.

During the procedure, Dr. George Christophi, a gastroenterologist at Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital, successfully removed another hook from Sophia’s esophagus.

Sophia is now in stable condition and continues to receive supportive care as she recovers.

A follow-up CT scan showed the remaining hooks had moved into Sophia’s small intestines, where they are no longer accessible using an endoscope. Fortunately, veterinarians say the hooks are not causing any intestinal blockage, and there is no evidence that fishing line is creating additional complications.

Because the risks of attempting another invasive procedure outweigh the potential benefits, Sophia’s care team has decided to continue monitoring her while focusing on her ultimate goal—returning her to the wild.

Estimated to be nearly 40 years old, Sophia is an important part of Florida’s marine ecosystem. Loggerhead sea turtles help maintain healthy ocean habitats by controlling prey populations, including crabs, and contributing to the future of their species through reproduction.

Brevard Zoo expressed its gratitude to Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital for its support and collaboration, noting that the partnership ensures sea turtle patients and Zoo animal residents continue to receive advanced medical care.

If Sophia’s recovery continues on its current path, Zoo officials hope to release her back into the Atlantic Ocean in the coming months. Updates on her rehabilitation and eventual release will be shared through Brevard Zoo’s social media channels and blog.