‘Porkchop’ Returns Home

After receiving nearly one year of rehabilitation and medical care at the Aquarium of the Pacific (AOP), a rescued green sea turtle has made its way back into the wild. Aquarium staff released the sea turtle – dubbed “Porkchop” – along the San Gabriel River because of the proximity to a resident green sea turtle population.

When the turtle was initially rescued in March of 2025, it was in a life-threatening condition and transferred to AOP for medical evaluation and care because of the aquarium’s expertise in treating and releasing stranded and injured sea turtles.

The turtle arrived at AOP with 90 percent of a front flipper dead from no blood circulation, which was caused by a severe monofilament fishing line constriction injury. X-rays showed that the turtle also had a fishing hook lodged in the back of its mouth.

The aquarium’s veterinary staff were able to successfully remove the hook from its throat and the dead part of the flipper through surgery. Animal care staff then continued to tend to the turtle’s wounds and continually monitored its progress.

The Aquarium of the Pacific also opened its new sea turtle rehabilitation area on Jan. 28, 2026. It received a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as well as contributions from the Molina Family Foundation and the KM Shimano Family Foundation to construct this new area near its Molina Animal Care Center.

The new space includes an approximately 4,000-gallon rehabilitation pool to accommodate rescued sea turtles found in Los Angeles County and beyond plus an audio-visual display where visitors can learn more about these efforts. The new space doubles the non-profit’s capacity for caring for future stranded, sick, or injured sea turtles, so they have a chance to heal and return to their natural habitats. Porkchop was the first rescued sea turtle to use the new rehabilitation area at the Aquarium of the Pacific before being released.

Submitted by AOP