Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital partners with Brevard Zoo to expand specialized care for sea turtles
Melbourne, FL – (July 14, 2026) — A collaboration between Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital and East Coast Zoological Foundation is helping expand access to specialized medical equipment for sea turtle rehabilitation along Florida’s Space Coast.
Through the donation of equipment and instruments from Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center Endoscopy Unit, East Coast Zoological Foundation’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center at Brevard Zoo now has more advanced endoscopy equipment, better able to remove foreign objects in animals with unique anatomies like sea turtles.
The collaboration also creates new opportunities for collaboration between the Zoo’s board-certified veterinarians and Orlando Health physicians with joint expertise in minimally invasive gastroenterology procedures.
“We’re honored to collaborate with Brevard Zoo’s veterinary team by providing this specialized equipment,” said Dr. George Christophi, 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 equipment will support the diagnosis and treatment of sea turtles suffering from ingested fishing hooks, fishing line and other gastrointestinal complications — a growing issue impacting marine wildlife.
“This collaboration came together incredibly quickly because everyone involved recognized the opportunity to make a lasting impact,” said Heather Profit, community relations manager for Orlando Health. “At Orlando Health, serving our community means using our resources, expertise and relationships to support important organizations like Brevard Zoo. 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.”
“This equipment expands our ability to care for patients with more severe fishing line and hook ingestion,” said Dr. Rachel Turner, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, 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. This partnership enhances our ability to provide advanced care for sea turtles and strengthens the future of marine animal medicine in our region.”
The donation of this specialized equipment was spurred on by the arrival of a 114-pound loggerhead sea turtle, Sophia, who was found to have more than 20 hooks in her gastrointestinal tract, along with fishing line. While the Zoo’s veterinary team was able to remove two hooks, most of the hooks and the line remain due to difficulties accessing parts of the gastrointestinal tract and a lack of the tools needed to remove hooks and line with the scope. Orlando Health’s donation of the necessary tools, along with Dr. Christophi’s technical expertise and skill, will allow the veterinary team to attempt to remove more of the hooks and potentially cut or remove the fishing line. The goal for Sophia, and all sea turtle patients, is to return her home to the ocean.
Physicians from Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital are also supporting the effort by consulting on procedural approaches.
“As gastroenterologists, we use this technology every day to perform minimally invasive procedures that improve patient outcomes,” Dr. Christophi said. “Being able to help sea turtle patients is incredibly rewarding. This collaboration demonstrates how medical innovation and teamwork can extend beyond human healthcare to benefit the broader community.”
East Coast Zoological Foundation’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center at Brevard Zoo treats hundreds of sick and injured sea turtles each year, many suffering from injuries caused by human impacts like boat strikes and improperly discarded fishing gear. Leaders from both organizations say the partnership represents a shared commitment to innovation, education and community impact.
About Orlando Health
Orlando Health is a private not-for-profit, integrated academic healthcare system with $15 billion of assets under management that serves the southeastern United States — including Florida and Alabama — and Puerto Rico. With corporate offices in Orlando, Florida, the system provides a complete continuum of care across a network of medical centers and institutes, community and specialty hospitals, physician practices, urgent care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare, and long-term and behavioral healthcare services. Founded more than 100 years ago, Orlando Health’s mission is to improve the health and quality of life of the individuals and communities we serve. The system provided nearly $1.7 billion in community impact in the form of community benefit programs and services, Medicare shortfalls, bad debt, community-building activities and capital investments in FY 23, the most recent period for which the information is available. For more information, visit orlandohealth.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X.
About East Coast Zoological Foundation
Driven by a mission to answer the call, East Coast Zoological Foundation (ECZF) is focused on educating, engaging and empowering the community to take action for conservation. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Melbourne, Florida, includes Brevard Zoo and Bowen Aquarium campuses. ECZF works directly with Florida species and the community to develop programs and workshops to make a difference locally and around the world. From sea turtle rehabilitations and releases, building living shorelines along the Indian River Lagoon, providing scholarships and grants to the community and more, the Foundation creates opportunities for guests to connect with nature and make an impact in conservation and education. Founded in 1986, ECZF is governed by a volunteer board of directors and receives no recurring operating funds from any city, county or state government, relying on donations from people and companies to continue answering the call for wildlife and the environment along Florida’s Space Coast and beyond. To learn more, visit ECZF.org.
About Brevard Zoo
Brevard Zoo is home to more than 700 animals representing 170 species from all over the world. As a not-for-profit organization, it is a leader in the fields of animal wellness, education and conservation. More information is available at BrevardZoo.org.
