Mango has been feeling much better!

We have a sweet sea turtle patient to introduce you to! Mango, a sub-adult green sea turtle, was brought to our Sea Turtle Healing Center at Brevard Zoo in July after being found washed ashore in Volusia County. Mango arrived with a presumed boat strike injury on top of their head and a small laceration on their left front flipper. The injury was discovered to be a fracture that extended the entire length of their skull.  

While Mango’s injuries looked dire, a CT scan revealed that the injury did not penetrate deep into the neurocranium, a part of the skull that protects the brain. If Mango’s neurocranium was damaged, the turtle likely would have experienced a decline in motor skills and brain function. Luckily, Mango managed to come away mostly unscathed.  

Our veterinary team has been conducting regular check-ups to clean out the head wound and to monitor healing. Mango is also receiving monthly CT scans and blood draws to keep a close eye on the injuries’ healing progress and Mango’s overall wellbeing.  

Mango’s head laceration is healing well.

On top of the traumatic injury Mango suffered, this turtle also arrived with fibropapillomatosis (FP) tumors. While there is no cure for this viral disease, these tumors can be surgically removed. Our team removed the most life threating tumors from Mango’s left front flipper, and their surgical site has been healing well. While these tumors can be debilitating for some turtles, we do not expect this disease to impact Mango’s release. 

Despite Mango’s traumatic past, this little green has remained spunky throughout their stay with us. Mango enjoys engaging with the enrichments in their pool and has a particular way of rearranging the items to make their space feel even cozier.  

If you’re a frequent boater on waterways where sea turtles live, remember that your actions have a great impact on this important keystone species. When taking your boat out for a spin, remember to reduce your speed in marked areas and assign boat riders to look out for nearby marine life. By slowing down your speed, you give sea turtles swimming around your vessel more time to flee. Investing in a propeller guard is another great way to not only protect sea turtles from harm, but also safeguards your boat from damage, too.    

We hope to send Mango back to the ocean soon! We will keep you updated on their healing journey with us.  

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.