A juvenile green sea turtle named Soggy Bottom made a triumphant return to the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday morning after spending several months recovering at the East Coast Zoological Foundation’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center at Brevard Zoo. (Brevard Zoo Image)
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – A juvenile green sea turtle named Soggy Bottom made a triumphant return to the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday morning after spending several months recovering at the East Coast Zoological Foundation’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center at Brevard Zoo.
The public release took place at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach, where community members gathered to watch the young sea turtle swim back into its natural habitat.
Soggy Bottom was rescued in March 2026 after being found entangled in fishing line around its neck and front-left flipper. The turtle had become trapped on rocks near the fishing pier at Jetty Park.
The sea turtle received its unique name in honor of a dedicated and permitted volunteer with the Sea Turtle Preservation Society who waded into the water to retrieve the injured turtle and transport it to the rehabilitation center.
Over the past several months, Soggy Bottom received medical treatment, proper nutrition and supportive care from the rehabilitation team at Brevard Zoo. With the turtle fully recovered, staff determined it was ready to return to the wild.
The release also served as a reminder of the dangers marine life faces from discarded fishing gear.
According to conservation experts, derelict fishing equipment remains one of the biggest threats to sea turtles.
Officials encourage anglers and beachgoers to always remove fishing gear from the water and leave beaches, piers and waterways cleaner than they found them. They also recommend avoiding fishing when sea turtles are spotted nearby to help prevent entanglements and protect these vulnerable animals.
