Ronaldo the Loggerhead Turtle rescued once again by Gulf World Marine Institute

BAY COUNTY, Fla. ( WMBB ) – Gulf World Marine Institute has rescued a sea turtle that has been a patient there once before.

Ronaldo is a loggerhead turtle. Gulf World first saw Ronaldo in August 2022 after a Fisherman hooked him at the Russell-Fields City Pier in Panama City Beach.

The turtle was treated, tagged, and released in early November. But Ronaldo got hooked again by a fisherman this week.

Local lifeguards rescued the turtle late Monday morning from the same area around the city pier. This time Gulf World experts say they discovered a number of hooks both internal and external.

“He had multiple external hooks that have already been removed and multiple internal logs that we have to treat as well. When they have internal hooks in the intestines, it’s very challenging to access those surgically,” Gulf World Marine Coordinator Lauren Albrittain said.

Albrittain says the first method of treatment is to feed Ronaldo cotton balls.

The idea for the cotton to snag the hooks and safely move them through the turtle’s intestines.

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