By adopting one of our current turtle patients, you will be contributing towards the veterinary care and support they need to heal and be released back to the wild.
Please note that we are a small charity, so it may take up to 5 business days for us to email your digital adoption package to you. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Please note: We are a small charity, so it may take up to 5 business days for us to email your digital adoption package to you. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Nadya was spotted by a kind-hearted guest at Vakkaru Resort, Baa Atoll, Maldives, in July 2025. She was floating motionless and missing a flipper which immediately raised concern. By the time help arrived, Nadya was drifting towards the shore, exhausted and struggling to swim. The Dive Centre team gently brought her onto the beach, contacted our veterinary team for assistance and soon transferred her by speedboat to our Marine Turtle Rescue Centre at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu, Baa Atoll.
Nadya is in a generally stable condition, however, she is missing her front left flipper and is suffering from Buoyancy Syndrome – when a sea turtle is unable to dive and is left floating on the surface. A significant amount of algae was found growing on her carapace, suggesting she has been floating at the surface for quite some time. Our veterinary team will observe her closely.
Noora, a juvenile olive ridley turtle, was found floating and badly injured in Haa Alifu Atoll, Maldives, in June 2025. Lying in the far north of the Maldives, Haa Alifu Atoll is a long way from our Marine Turtle Rescue Centre in Baa Atoll. Although Noora underwent an unusually long transfer, our team is experienced in managing such transport logistics, and after two days she arrived at our Rescue Centre.
Noora arrived with multiple injuries including cuts, broken bones in her flippers and damage to the top and bottom of her shell. It looks like she may have been entangled in fishing gear or hit by something large. The good news is that she is alert, active and feeds eagerly with an amazing appetite, one of the best signs we can see for recovery. Healing broken flippers takes time, but with her resilience and our expert care, we're hopeful Noora will make a full recovery.
Dharifulhu is an adult female olive ridley sea turtle found floating by a research expedition in South Ari Atoll, Maldives, in May 2025. After being observed floating on the surface for some time, Dharifulhu was brought onboard and transferred to our Marine Turtle Rescue Centre in Baa Atoll.
Dharifulhu is missing her front right and her left hind flipper. She is also suffering from severe anaemia and reduced organ function. At first, she was too stressed and unwell to eat, but with gentle care and patience, she's now adjusted to her new environment and eats well with help from our team using feeding tongs. Despite everything she's been through, Dharifulhu is proof of just how resilient these amazing creatures can be.
Vindhu, an adult male olive ridley sea turtle, was discovered entangled in a ghost net in North Ari Atoll, Maldives, in April 2025. He was released from the net but was unable to dive, remaining buoyant at the surface. Vindhu was retrieved, and with the support of Trans Maldivian Airways, was transferred to our Marine Turtle Rescue Centre, in Baa Atoll.
Vindhu has suffered wounds to both his front flippers, and he is suffering from Buoyancy Syndrome, which prevents him from being able to dive to rest and feed. Despite his injuries, Vindhu is definitely the most energetic sea turtle in our care and he keeps our team on their toes with his feisty personality! He's excelling at his feeding training and has a great appetite, this energy and enthusiasm tell us he's heading in the right direction.
Karaa, an adult male olive ridley sea turtle, was discovered entangled in a ghost net in Lhaviyani Atoll, Maldives, in March 2024. Trans Maldivian Airways kindly transferred him by seaplane to our Marine Turtle Rescue Centre in Baa Atoll.
Karaa had suffered a severe injury to his left front flipper, and despite our veterinary team´s best efforts to salvage it, the damage was irreparable and it had to be amputated. Karaa has been progressing well since the procedure, showing a healthy appetite and renewed energy. His efforts during dive training sessions give us lots of reasons to be optimistic, and we are hopeful that he will soon begin diving independently. Patience is key with sea turtle rehabilitation, and Karaa's progress shows us that slow and steady really does win the race.
Nakaiy, an adult female adult olive ridley sea turtle, was rescued from a ghost net in Lhaviyani Atoll, Maldives, in November 2023. The next day, Trans Maldivian Airways flew her by seaplane to our Marine Turtle Rescue Centre in Baa Atoll.
Nakaiy had entanglement injuries around her neck, mouth and front left flipper, which was severely injured and diseased. We immediately started providing critical care in the hope of keeping the flipper, which was successful! Nakaiy is recovering from a serious bone infection in both her front flippers. She's no longer on medication, which is great progress, but we´re still providing daily physiotherapy to help her learn to use her flippers again. Bone infections take time to heal completely, but Nakaiy's quiet determination and the small improvements we see each week give us hope.
Fida, a juvenile olive ridley sea turtle, was found in Noonu Atoll, Maldives, in August 2022. She was floating on the surface, weak and struggling to breathe and swim. She had lost her right front flipper and half of her rear right flipper, where the bone was exposed.
Our initial treatment focused on fluid therapy for hydration, pain control, prevention of infection and regular wound treatment. In her first month, we conducted a deep wound debridement, after which she became more active and even chased after her food, turning in both directions during feeding. Despite having lost both right flippers, she can still swim speedily in a straight line. She is very food motivated, and attempts to dive, however it is very hard work for her, with only two flippers! A year and three months after her arrival, we transferred Fida to our North Malé Atoll Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Centre at One&Only, where she is under the care of our sea turtle biologist and the veterinary team’s direct supervision. There she has a large tank to swim and dive in.
Treating and rehabilitating sick and injured sea turtles is a long and costly process. There are costs for surgical equipment and drugs, medicine, and food. And many patients require specialist surgery, plasma therapy, laser therapy – sometimes all three – to recover from wounds and infection. And it can often take many months for rescued sea turtles to be healthy and strong enough to dive and forage for food again successfully. Only then can they be returned to the wild.
Thank you for your support!
