In August 2025, a fisherman found a loggerhead sea turtle tangled in fishing lines and a crab trap. The 170-pound turtle, named Molly, was taken to the Turtle Hospital. This is the world's first state-licensed veterinary hospital for sea turtles.
Bette Zirkelbach, the hospital's general manager, noted that Molly was covered in barnacles. This showed she was not healthy. The team used screwdrivers to remove the barnacles. Zirkelbach joked it was "like a good back scratch."
Molly's Big Challenge
Molly was also anemic and dehydrated. She had several tumors. The biggest tumor weighed 10.1 pounds. Zirkelbach described it as "grotesque" and "much bigger than her head." She called it the "scariest-looking tumor" she had seen in 14 years.
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Start Your News DetoxThe tumor was caused by fibropapillomatosis. This disease creates cauliflower-like growths on sea turtles. It affects their skin, eyes, mouth, and internal organs. Zirkelbach explained that the disease is found near developed islands. This suggests it is linked to water quality.
Molly had a three-hour surgery to remove the large tumor. Zirkelbach said it was the biggest tumor she had ever successfully removed. Molly recovered well from the operation.
The Turtle Hospital shared an update on Instagram in August 2025. They said Molly was doing well and eating mackerel, squid, and lobster. They noted she had a long recovery ahead. They hoped her immune system was strong. The team planned to remove her other tumors once her blood levels improved.
A New Lease on Life
After the largest tumor was gone, Molly's personality changed. Zirkelbach said Molly seemed happy and swam right away. She became stronger and more energetic.
After more surgeries and months of recovery, Molly was ready to go home. She was released on November 25, 2025, from Higgs Beach, Florida. A crowd cheered her on. She had a satellite tag to track her movements.
Zirkelbach said Molly's story has touched people globally. It helps them care about sea turtles and the oceans. She added that seeing an endangered turtle like Molly get strong enough to return to the wild is why they do their work. Zirkelbach sees Molly as "the hope for the future of sea turtles."
Since her release, Molly has swum over 870 miles around southern Florida. In March, the Sea Turtle Conservancy shared a map of her travels. They posted on Facebook that Molly had traveled towards Marco Island and Fort Myers before returning to The Keys. Many Facebook users expressed their love for Molly and checked her updates daily.
