FLORIDA PANHANDLE
MARINE INSTITUTE
FLORIDA PANHANDLE
MARINE INSTITUTE
FLORIDA PANHANDLE
MARINE INSTITUTE
FLORIDA PANHANDLE
MARINE INSTITUTE
Today we had the amazing opportunity to release one of our former patients, “ZBoo”! After being transferred to The Florida Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center to finish the majority of his/her recuperation, this juvenile green sea turtle was returned to the Gulf after nearly a year of recovery!
FPMI is so grateful for the chance to be a part of this release! Thanks to all that made it possible and came out to support!
On Wednesday, October 28th, 2026, at 1:30 pm CT/2:30 pm ET, The Florida Panhandle Marine Institute (FPMI), in coordination with The Florida Aquarium, will be releasing “Zboo”, a juvenile green sea turtle back into the Gulf at Salinas Park, Gulfside (280 Cape San Blas Rd, Port St. Joe, FL 32456). Please note that the Facebook event start time is intentionally earlier than the release time to encourage attendees to arrive early!
Zboo was found by a local fisherman on Tyndall Air Force Base, entangled in fishing line around its right front flipper and head on October 25th, 2025. The call came in while many of the FPMI team were at an outreach event, ZooBoo, (hence the name), and our director coordinated with the reporting party to safely recover this critically injured sea turtle. It was clear that Zboo would need extended time for recovery, and FPMI was nearing the start of our relocation efforts. The Florida Aquarium was able to offer a spot for Zboo to continue rehabilitation, and he/she was transferred on December 1, 2025. The dedicated team at The Florida Aquarium has been managing Zboo’s recovery efforts ever since, and it has been a long journey. Here is what they had to say about ZBoo’s rehabilitation:
“Zboo was transferred to The Florida Aquarium on December 1st, 2025. This turtle was initially found with a partially amputated right, front flipper due to fishing line entanglement. In January 2026, the veterinary team with The Florida Aquarium removed the remaining flipper. This was the first sea turtle surgery completed at the aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center. Zboo’s health status improved after the removal of the infected flipper and they were able to dive, forage, and behave like a sea turtle should. In April 2026, the STRC staff noticed behavioral changes that were concerning and upon examination determined that ZBoo had free fluid in their body cavity. This finding led to the second surgery performed at STRC, an exploratory endoscopy to determine the source of fluid. The findings did not show a specific cause for the fluid so the team started Zboo back on antibiotics and closely monitoring blood values. During their continued care, ZBoo has become a volunteer and staff favorite for their small but mighty story and love of enrichment toys, especially kelp strips.
We are happy to share that as of October of 2026, 1 year after their initial stranding of in Bay County, Florida, Zboo has been deemed healthy and cleared for release by the TFA Vets”
We are so glad to have the opportunity to aid in his/her release! Buoying the success of our recent groundbreaking celebration, we hope many of you will join us to send Zboo home.
Once again, we thank our partners at The Florida Aquarium for welcoming Zboo into their program in our time of need, and for managing his/her recovery this year. This sea turtle has been medically cleared for release by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
