Falafel, a loggerhead sea turtle injured after becoming entangled in abandoned fishing gear, continues to recover at the East Coast Zoological Foundation’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Falafel, a loggerhead sea turtle injured after becoming entangled in abandoned fishing gear, continues to recover at the East Coast Zoological Foundation’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center.
Falafel was found with fishing line wrapped twice around the left front flipper, severely restricting blood flow. An abandoned cast net was also entangled around the turtle.
The damage caused by the “ghost gear” was so extensive that veterinarians were forced to amputate the injured flipper. Falafel is making guarded progress, and the rehabilitation team hopes the loggerhead can eventually return to the ocean.
Falafel is one of three loggerhead sea turtles admitted to the center in recent months with injuries connected to derelict fishing equipment. Unfortunately, the other two turtles, Sophia and Liberty, suffered injuries too severe to overcome.
Sophia, a 140-pound loggerhead, arrived in May after being found stranded in the Indian River Lagoon with fishing line attached to a hook protruding from her mouth.
Falafel, a loggerhead sea turtle injured after becoming entangled in abandoned fishing gear, continues to recover at the East Coast Zoological Foundation’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center.
Further examination revealed approximately 18 additional fishing hooks throughout Sophia’s digestive tract. The rehabilitation center worked with Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital and one of its gastroenterologists, using specialized equipment in an attempt to remove the hooks.
Despite those efforts and a subsequent surgery involving veterinary specialists, Sophia’s gastrointestinal tract was found to be irreparably damaged. The team ultimately made the difficult decision to prevent her from enduring further suffering.
Liberty arrived at the center during the Fourth of July weekend with the assistance of Coastal Connections Inc.
The 210-pound adult gravid loggerhead, meaning she was carrying eggs, had previously survived a boat strike and had what appeared to be healed propeller marks on her shell.
Liberty was found with braided fishing line wrapped around her neck and front flippers. The line also connected her to another sea turtle that had already died.
Although the rehabilitation team attempted to save both of Liberty’s flippers, her injuries became too extensive for her to be safely returned to the ocean. The team later made the painful decision to say goodbye.
Derelict fishing gear remains one of the leading threats facing sea turtles. Some injuries are immediately visible, including fishing line wrapped around flippers and propeller wounds on shells, while others—such as swallowed hooks—can cause devastating internal damage.
The rehabilitation center is encouraging residents and visitors to help protect sea turtles by leaving beaches, piers and waterways cleaner than they found them, even when the trash belongs to someone else.
Anglers should also consider temporarily stopping fishing when a sea turtle is spotted near a pier or other fishing area. Rehabilitation officials suspect Sophia may have regularly visited local fishing piers in search of food, leading her to ingest numerous hooks.
Divers and snorkelers who encounter abandoned fishing gear are encouraged to remove it when it can be done safely and dispose of it properly. Those who do not dive can support local dive clubs that conduct volunteer underwater cleanup events.
By reducing discarded fishing line, hooks, nets and other debris, the community can help protect sea turtles and create a cleaner, safer environment for marine life and people alike.
