This morning, the Brevard County Zoo released 370-pound female loggerhead sea turtle Perseverance in Cocoa Beach after she was successfully rehabilitated at our Sea Turtle Healing Center. Brevard County Ocean Rescue (BCOR) helped the zoo transport her from the parking lot to the beach.

This massive sea turtle was observed struggling to nest by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in late July, and an initial exam performed on the beach revealed abnormalities such as an old, healed injury on the shell; swelling; and weakness.

After several nights of failed nesting attempts, Perseverance was rescued from the beach with assistance from BCOR and University of Central Florida, then transported to our Healing Center in the middle of the night on July 31.

Ultrasounds by the zoo’s veterinary team indicated that Perseverance had difficultly passing eggs. She was induced by their team and laid over 100 eggs, which were buried for incubation near Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge in Melbourne Beach.

The sea turtle, who was named after NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, was also treated with nutritional support, fluids and medications during her stay at the zoo before being deemed ready for release.

If you’d like to help the Brevard Zoo continue rehabilitating and releasing sick and injured sea turtles during these trying times, click here to learn how you can support the them .

All seven of the world’s sea turtle species are threatened by human hunting, entanglement in fishing equipment, marine debris, shrinking beaches, pollution and climate change.

If you find a distressed sea turtle in Brevard County, call Sea Turtle Preservation Society at 321-206-0646 or Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC.