Rescued Sea Turtle with 3 Flippers Recovers at Long Beach Aquarium

The turtle was rescued after volunteers found it stuck with fishing line wrapped around its flipper.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 4:47pm

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A green sea turtle that was rescued nearly a year ago from tangled fishing line in the San Gabriel River is recovering at a newly constructed pool at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. The turtle had to undergo surgery to remove one of its flippers, but is now thriving and expected to be released back to the wild in the coming weeks.

Why it matters

Sea turtles are a protected species, and incidents of entanglement in fishing gear and other marine debris are a major threat to their survival. This story highlights the important work of rehabilitation facilities in caring for injured turtles and preparing them for release back into their natural habitats.

The details

The turtle was rescued last March after volunteers with the Southern California Sea Turtle Monitoring Project found it stuck, with fishing line wrapped around its flipper, preventing it from swimming away. The line had cut off the turtle's blood supply, resulting in a severely infected wound and the loss of one of its flippers. Aquarium staff performed surgery to remove the damaged flipper and have been caring for the turtle during its nearly year-long rehabilitation.

  • The turtle was rescued in March 2025.
  • The turtle is expected to be released back to the wild in the coming weeks.

The players

Aquarium of the Pacific

A public aquarium located in Long Beach, California that is one of two facilities in Southern California with dedicated aquatic facilities and staff experience for caring for wild turtles.

Southern California Sea Turtle Monitoring Project

A volunteer organization that monitors sea turtle populations and responds to reports of stranded, sick, or injured turtles in the region.

Dr. Lance Adams

The veterinarian at the Aquarium of the Pacific who performed surgery on the turtle to remove its damaged flipper.

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What they’re saying

“The line was wrapped tightly around its right flipper, near its body, which cut off its blood supply. This resulted in a severely infected wound, and the death of a flipper, which then required surgery by our veterinary team to remove it and make it possible to save the turtle's life.”

— Dr. Lance Adams, Aquarium of the Pacific veterinarian (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The turtle is expected to be released back to its wild habitat in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This story highlights the important work of rehabilitation facilities like the Aquarium of the Pacific in caring for injured and endangered sea turtles, and the ongoing threat that marine debris and entanglement poses to these protected species.