A 75-pound sea turtle was found yesterday morning, March 18, 2023, at the south end of Manzanita Beach. After receiving photographs of the turtle, it became clear that the turtle had been dead for quite some time before reaching land. The turtle was recovered by Seaside Aquarium and was later identified as a loggerhead turtle.

This ocean turtle had an entire ecosystem traveling with her. When cleaning its shell to make a positive identification, live gooseneck barnacles, keɩetoп shrimp, and even nudibranchs were found. While the Oregon coast is no stranger to sea turtles, the species usually found are olive ridley turtles. Loggerheads are quite rare for this area.

The turtle soon began to show signs of stability, according to the aquarium, swimming, dіⱱіпɡ and searching for food. About a week after it was discovered on the beach, the turtle had its first meal: a salmon fillet.

The aquarium was not equipped to care for the animal long-term, and since the animal was showing good signs of progress, veterinary staff arranged with a nonprofit organization called Turtles Fly Too to have the creature brought to the San Diego Zoo. Diego on Saturday.

“I just received a video from SeaWorld San Diego,” the aquarium’s curator of fish and invertebrates, Evonne Mochon-Collura, said shortly after the turtle’s arrival in California. “The loggerhead is swimming in its large outdoor pool – a successful triage and transport!”

Veterinarians at the zoo will monitor the animal’s recovery with the goal of eventually returning the turtle to the woman.