Leia is estimated to be about one year old. 

Meet Leia, a special new addition to our Sea Turtle Healing Center! This juvenile Kemp’s ridley sea turtle came to us earlier this week from the Sea Turtle Preservation Society after being found washed back to shore in Cocoa Beach.  

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle is actually the smallest and most critically endangered sea turtle species in the world! 

While checking on Leia’s condition upon arrival, our veterinary staff noticed a large abscess on the left side of their head, hence the name “Leia” from Star Wars. 

Leia is missing their left front flipper. It is completely healed and will not prevent this little turtle’s return to their natural range!

Because Leia is so small, our x-rays equipment could not quite capture the details needed to address the issue. Dr. Trevor Zachariah, director of veterinary programs at the Brevard Zoo suspected there may be abnormalities of the bones in this little turtle’s head. 

So, we turned to our veterinary friends at the Animal Specialty and Emergency Center of Brevard, who generously donated their expert staff time and highly detailed x-ray equipment to get a closer look at Leia’s head. 

A dental x-ray used on this very small Kemp’s Ridley’s head.

There, Dr. Monica Morgado, a board-certified veterinary dentist and Jaime Springer, certified veterinary technician, used the emergency center’s portable dental – yes, dental! – x-ray machine to capture detailed images.

Dr. Monica Morgado has a soft spot for sea turtles, as she has worked closely with them in the past.

After reviewing the images, Dr. Trevor Zachariah decided to drain the abscess and collect the fluid for testing. 

While we wait for test results, our Healing Center team is flushing the wound daily and Leia is now on a course of antibiotics.  We will allow the wound to heal naturally. However, when results from the fluid culture and cytology return our veterinary team may adjust the treatment plan.   

Our Brevard Zoo team is eternally grateful to Dr. Mary Rowe, managing veterinarian, and her team at Animal Specialty and Emergency Center of Brevard, who are always willing to lend a hand—or should we say, a “flipper”?  

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.