Inside the mission to get this amputee turtle back to the San Gabriel River

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Porkchop appeared eager to go home.Under a blazing sun, the green sea turtle thwapped the surface of the San Gabriel River with her sole front flipper as aquarium staffers gripped her shell.They let go and all 85 pounds of her instantly disappeared into the murky water — the same place she was rescued a year ago, with a mostly dead flipper and a hook lodged in her mouth.“I hope she gets to go far away or live a turtle life with no further involvement with human beings,” said Dr.Lance Adams, director of veterinary services for the Aquarium of the Pacific, which treated her injuries — including amputating the necrotic flipper — before releasing her into the wild on Friday morning.Formally known as CM2502, Porkchop got her nickname from aquarium staffers when she wasted no time eating after the amputation of her front right flipper, which had been severely constricted by fishing line.She’s the latest patient to graduate from the Long Beach aquarium, which has rehabilitated sea turtles for more than 25 years.

But until recently, all the work was done behind the scenes.Last month, the aquarium opened a new turtle rehabilitation facility that includes a roughly 4,000-gallon, public-facing pool.There, aquarium visitors can see sick or injured turtles swim, be fed or receive medical treatment, depending on when they stop by.

Porkchop earned her 15 minutes of reptilian fame by becoming the first turtle to swim in the tank.Many Angelenos don’t know Eastern Pacific green sea turtles are swimming in their proverbial backyard, but they are — and they’re thriving.It’s estimated that about 100 of the hulking-yet-graceful animals live in the lower stretch of the San Gabriel River, where salt and freshwater commingle.Turtles tend to swim into the mouth of the river in the Long Beach-Seal Beach area when the ocean water is colder, then just hang out and eat algae.

(The turt...