Courtesy of the Aquarium of the Pacific
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Yesterday, Long Beach’s Aquarium of the Pacific opened a new 4,000-gallon rehabilitation pool where visitors can see rescued sea turtles and learn about their conservation.
The new area doubles the aquarium‘s previous capacity for treating sick or injured sea turtles so that they may heal and return to the wild.
For now, the only occupant of the rehabilitation pool is Porkchop, a female sea turtle who was rescued in March of 2025. She was found with a fishing hook lodged in the back of her throat and a damaged flipper that required amputation.
After two surgeries, Porkchop has now recovered and will remain in the rehabilitation pool in preparation for her release back into the wild.
Sea turtle rehabilitation at the Aquarium of the Pacific
The Aquarium of the Pacific is one of just two facilities in Southern California with dedicated spaces for sea turtle rehabilitation. It has rehabilitated and released sea turtles since 2000, and is currently taking care of two rescued green sea turtles.
This expanded space was created after the aquarium received a grant in October from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It features audiovisual displays that showcase the Aquarium’s sea turtle rehabilitation efforts.
“We are grateful for the support we have received to make this new sea turtle rehabilitation area become a reality,” said Jeff Flocken, Aquarium of the Pacific president and CEO.
“We hope that our visitors will continue to be inspired to become stewards of our environment as they see rescued sea turtles undergo care here and learn more about these amazing animals that inhabit our local waters and beyond.”
How you can help
All sea turtle species found in United States waters are listed as either endangered or threatened, and as the Aquarium asserts, “every rescued sea turtle has a story of survival.”
Aquarium volunteers track sea turtle activity through the Southern California Sea Turtle Monitoring Project, whose data helps to understand the movements of local sea turtles and how to help them.
If you want to support the Aquarium’s sea turtle work and rehabilitation, consider donating to the Rescue to Release campaign.
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