If you have found an injured or sick sea turtle in the Maldives and need emergency assistance, please contact ORP’s Veterinary Team:
Call, WhatsApp or Viber +960 955 220
Email: vet@oliveridleyproject.org
How To Deal With a Sea Turtle Emergency
1. Stop, think and assess the situation
First, ensure your own safety by assessing the situation and taking necessary precautions. Sea turtles have strong sharp beaks, so take great care when approaching them. Water safety advice applies to situations where sea turtles are found entangled/floating at sea: Do not enter the water unless you are a confident swimmer and are with someone. Never attempt a rescue alone.
2. Make some observations
We will ask:
- Where was the sea turtle found? (GPS coordinates is also helpful)
- The rough size and weight of the sea turtle?
- Is the sea turtle floating?
- Are there any obvious external injuries?
3. Handling The Sea Turtle
If the sea turtle is in the water, carefully retrieve it onto a boat or dry land:
- Do not pick up the sea turtle by the debris, but place one hand over the shoulder of one flipper/behind the head and the other hand between the back flippers above the tail.
- Never handle or lift a sea turtle by its flippers, head or tail: always hold the shell.
- Lift the debris along with the sea turtle, so that it does not weigh the turtle down.
- If the debris is attached to the reef, use a knife to cut it loose.
- Be careful to keep fingers away from their beak, their bite is very painful!
- Adult sea turtles will likely require two people to lift it.
- Once in a dry, ideally shaded, area, keep the sea turtle flat on its bottom shell: NEVER place the turtle on its back.
- Clear objects near the sea turtle so it does not injure itself.
- Photograph/video the sea turtle including from above, both sides of its head, its injuries and the debris and, if possible, send them to us so we can provide advice specific to your situation.
4. Freeing The Sea Turtle From The Ghost Net
Attempts to free an entangled sea turtle can be made by carefully removing the debris.
DO NOT remove anything that is cutting deep into its skin or coming out of the sea turtle’s tail or mouth: These might be lodged very deep inside the sea turtle, so leave them for the veterinary surgeon to remove.
5. Assessing If The Sea Turtle Needs Medical Attention
If the sea turtle is in any way flat or lethargic, has severe wounds, or cannot dive, then it requires veterinary attention:
- Place the sea turtle in a quiet shaded area away from people.
- Do not cover the sea turtle if it is in a shaded area: Only cover the top shell with wet towels if it is in the sun and never cover the head.
- Call, WhatsApp or Viber +960 955 2205 to speak to our veterinary team, who will guide you through the steps to assist us in transporting the sea turtle to our Rescue Centre, if you have not already done so.
If the turtle has no deep wounds and is moving actively, the veterinary team may ask you to prepare for release.
To release the sea turtle:
- Carefully pick it up by the front and back of the top shell: place one hand over the shoulder of one flipper/behind the head and the other hand between the back flippers above the tail. Do not pick up sea turtles by their flippers, the head or the tail.
- Lower the sea turtle gently into the sea and let go of both hands simultaneously. DO NOT push or throw the sea turtle into the water.
- If on the beach, the sea turtle can be released on the sand near the water line.
- After release, watch carefully to observe if the sea turtle can swim and dive.
Can the Sea Turtle Dive and Swim Normally?
If the sea turtle can swim and dive normally, this has been a successful rescue! Please take photos of the marine debris, report the stranding event here, and take the debris to the closest waste management facility.
If the sea turtle is struggling to swim or dive, retrieve it back onto the boat or beach:
- Place the sea turtle in a quiet shaded area away from people.
- Do not cover the sea turtle if it is in a shaded area: Only cover the top shell with wet towels if it is in the sun and never cover the head.
- Call ORP’s sea turtle veterinary hotline 955 2205 if in the Maldives if you have not already done so.
- Follow the veterinary team’s instructions.
Sea Turtle First Aid
- If there is any active bleeding, place pressure as best you can by use of a towel or something similar. Again, take care if this is near the sharp beak so as not to get bitten!
- If you see a hook or a line coming out of the mouth or bottom (cloaca), do not attempt to remove it.
- Avoid unnecessary handling. Keep people away from the sea turtle and place it in a shaded area if possible.
- Do not attempt to scrub or clean the turtle at this time; this will stress the turtle further.
Download Our Sea Turtle Entanglement Protocol
Click on the image to download our Sea Turtle Entanglement Protocol – a step-by-step guide on what to do when you find an entangled turtle.
