Grant: 24-015C
Project Title: Sea Turtle Healing Center Diagnostic Imaging Equipment
Project Manager: Trevor Zachariah, DVM, MS, DACZM
Organization: East Coast Zoological Society of Florida (Brevard Zoo) (Non-Profit Organization)
Grant Amount: $21,732.50
Completion Date: 2025-05-09
Summary: This project will support the diagnostic imaging equipment needs of the East Coast Zoological Society of Florida Sea Turtle Healing Center (STHC), a behind-the-scenes, 2,400-square-foot facility dedicated to rehabilitating sick and injured sea turtles at Brevard Zoo. Run by two full-time staff members with support from 75 regular volunteers and a world-class veterinary team, the STHC takes in rescued sea turtles and rehabilitates them back to health through nutrition, medical care, and enrichment. Since its inception, the number of patients brought into the center for treatment has grown by 157%, due in part to the growing number of marine turtles suffering with the deadly fibropapillomatosis virus. This project will purchase two urgently needed pieces of veterinary equipment for the STHC: a stationary radiology generator for smaller patients and a portable radiology generator for larger patients. This equipment will replace the STHC's two existing generators, one of which is non-functioning and the other of which is nearing the end of its useful life. These imaging tools are critical to allow veterinary staff to diagnose internal conditions such as broken bones, bone infection, pneumonia, foreign bodies, internal tumors, and more. By enabling a more informed and efficient use of veterinary care, these tools will help maintain and increase the STHC's annual capacity and improve conservation outcomes for marine turtles.
Results: East Coast Zoological Society/Brevard Zoo enhanced its ability to diagnose and care for sea turtles within its Sea Turtle Healing Center with the addition of two new X-Ray Generators. These ensure that the Center continues to efficiently promote the health of Florida's marine turtle populations at the veterinary clinic and serve our shared mission to reduce human-related mortality of all life history stages of Florida's marine turtles. Thanks to the Sea Turtle Conservancy Support in 2024-2025, staff at STHC accomplished the following:
- 164 radiographic studies, averaging 5 images per study on 53 sick or injured sea turtles;
- Responded to 117 sick or injured sea turtles and treated 38 of those turtles; and
- Released 13 back into their natural range during the grant period.