MELBOURNE — A partnership between Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital and the East Coast Zoological Foundation is giving sea turtles along Florida’s Space Coast better odds against one of their most common and dangerous threats: swallowed fishing gear.
Orlando Health’s endoscopy unit at Orlando Regional Medical Center has donated specialized instruments to the foundation’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center at Brevard Zoo. The equipment allows veterinarians to reach deeper into a turtle’s gastrointestinal tract and remove hooks, line, and other foreign objects that standard tools often cannot access.
The donation also opens the door for ongoing collaboration between the zoo’s board-certified veterinarians and Orlando Health physicians who regularly perform minimally invasive gastroenterology procedures.
“We’re honored to collaborate with Brevard Zoo’s veterinary team by providing this specialized equipment,” said Dr. George Christophi, a gastroenterologist at Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital. “By sharing our expertise, we can help support the veterinary team at Brevard Zoo to ensure the sea turtles in need continue to receive the most accurate, effective surgical care and improve their chances of recovery.”
The need became clear with the arrival of Sophia, a 114-pound loggerhead found with more than 20 hooks and lengths of fishing line in her digestive system. Zoo veterinarians removed two of the hooks, but the rest remained out of reach without the proper instruments.
Christophi and the newly donated tools will give the team a better chance at clearing the remaining gear so Sophia can return to the ocean.
“This equipment expands our ability to care for patients with more severe fishing line and hook ingestion,” said Dr. Rachel Turner, director of veterinary programs at Brevard Zoo. “In addition to the technology itself, this is an invaluable opportunity for collaboration and education between our two teams.”
Heather Profit, community relations manager for Orlando Health, said the partnership came together quickly once both sides recognized the potential impact.
“At Orlando Health, serving our community means using our resources, expertise and relationships to support important organizations like Brevard Zoo,” Profit said. “Beyond the donation itself, we are proud to help connect medical professionals and veterinary experts so they can share knowledge, collaborate on procedures and continue advancing care for these animals.”
Physicians from Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital are also consulting on procedural approaches as the veterinary team prepares for future cases.
Brevard Zoo’s sea turtle center treats hundreds of sick and injured turtles each year. Many arrive with injuries tied to boat strikes or discarded fishing gear — problems that continue to grow along Florida’s coasts. Leaders from both organizations say the collaboration reflects a shared focus on practical solutions and stronger outcomes for the animals.
