Rescued Sea Turtle Meatloaf Fights to Save Injured Flipper

Visitors can watch Meatloaf's recovery at the Aquarium of the Pacific's new sea turtle rehabilitation area.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 10:23pm

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A ghostly, translucent X-ray photograph showing the internal bone structure and damaged tissue of a sea turtle's front flipper, conceptually illustrating the medical challenges of rehabilitating an injured marine animal.An X-ray view of a sea turtle's damaged flipper highlights the complex rehabilitation process for rescued marine animals.Los Angeles Today

Meatloaf, a 200-lb green sea turtle rescued from the San Gabriel River, is undergoing rehabilitation at the Aquarium of the Pacific after being found severely entangled in fishing line and rope that damaged one of her front flippers. Veterinarians are working to save the flipper through surgery and treatment, though her recovery could take up to a year.

Why it matters

Meatloaf's story highlights the broader issue of marine debris and entanglement endangering sea turtles along the Southern California coast. The Aquarium of the Pacific's new sea turtle rehabilitation area aims to educate the public on this conservation challenge.

The details

Meatloaf was rescued earlier this year after being found tangled in fishing line and rope in the San Gabriel River, which had severely damaged one of her front flippers. Veterinarians performed surgery to try and save the flipper, and Meatloaf has been recovering for three months with promising signs of healing, though her full recovery could take up to a year. The Aquarium of the Pacific's new 4,000-gallon sea turtle rehabilitation pool allows visitors to observe Meatloaf's recovery process.

  • Meatloaf was rescued earlier this year.
  • Meatloaf has been recovering for three months since her first surgery.

The players

Meatloaf

A 200-lb green sea turtle rescued from the San Gabriel River with a severely injured front flipper.

Nate Jaros

Vice president of animal care at the Aquarium of the Pacific.

Dr. Lance Adams

Director of veterinary services at the Aquarium of the Pacific.

Porkchop

Another sea turtle rescued from the San Gabriel River with similar flipper injuries, who ultimately had to have her flipper amputated.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The agency that operates a stranding hotline that was contacted when community science volunteers first spotted the entangled Meatloaf.

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What they’re saying

“It took longer than expected to get her positioned out of the water. She's a very large turtle, the largest turtle we've worked on.”

— Nate Jaros, Vice president of animal care at the Aquarium of the Pacific

“The entangled line severely damaged a front flipper, cutting off blood supply. We have been doing all we can, including surgery, to try and save the flipper. It is showing some early promising signs of healing.”

— Dr. Lance Adams, Director of veterinary services at the Aquarium of the Pacific

What’s next

Meatloaf will continue her rehabilitation at the Aquarium of the Pacific, with veterinarians monitoring her progress and determining if her flipper can be fully saved or if amputation may be necessary, as was the case with the previously rescued turtle Porkchop.

The takeaway

Meatloaf's story highlights the ongoing threat of marine debris and entanglement facing sea turtles along the Southern California coast, and the critical role that facilities like the Aquarium of the Pacific play in rescuing and rehabilitating these endangered animals.