It’s always a special day when we wish one of our Sea Turtle Healing Center patients well on their journey back to the ocean. Recently, we were lucky enough to wish TWO patients well! We said bon voyage to Jellyfish and Joey Chestnut, two juvenile green sea turtles.

Jellyfish arrived at the Healing Center at Brevard Zoo on June 15, 2025 – in the middle of Sea Turtle Week and on the day celebrating the leatherback sea turtle species! This little green was named after one of leatherback’s favorite foods: Jellyfish!

A lethargic Jellyfish was found off Patrick Space Force Base covered in epibiota like barnacles. Out of state beach goers found this juvenile green turtle laying on the beach and returned it to the ocean, not knowing that the sea turtle was sick. Jellyfish washed ashore again while they were at the beach, and they realized something must be wrong with the turtle. A call to the Sea Turtle Preservation Society’s (STPS) stranding hotline brought a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) trained volunteer to the beach to transport this lethargic, barnacle ladened turtle to the Brevard Zoo for medical care.

Joey Chestnut was found washed ashore on July 16, 2025 – National Hotdog Day! Joey the sea turtle also appeared lethargic and was missing their right rear flipper, although the wound was fully healed. After a full veterinary exam and CT scan at the Brevard Zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center we soon learned that Joey also had pneumonia. This turtle received two months of daily 20-minute antibiotic breathing treatments.

Good nutrition, antibiotics and rest helped both of these sea turtles mend!

In Brevard County it is becoming more common to find lethargic, epibiota-covered green sea turtles in the early spring after being affected by the winter’s lower water temperatures. If you see a sea turtle of any sea turtle in distress, they most likely need medical attention. Please contact the FWCC at 1-888-404-FWCC or STPS at 321-676-1701. We’re so glad Jellyfish and Joey Chestnut made it to our Healing Center and that we were able to nurse them back to health!

Thanks to Wells Fargo Foundation for their support of the Sea Turtle Healing Center.

Have you found a sea turtle that needs help? Visit this page or call the Sea Turtle Preservation Society at 321-206-0646. Want to help the Sea Turtle Healing Center? Support our Zoo, or view our Healing Center’s wishlist.