Turtle patient 254: Noora, juvenile olive ridley
Noora, a juvenile olive ridley sea turtle, was found floating and badly injured in Haa Alifu Atoll. After two days of transfers by speedboat and seaplane, Noora finally arrived at our Marine Turtle Rescue Centre for urgent medical care.
The vitals
Admission Date: 7 June 2025
Patient Number: 254
Rescue Location: Haa Alifu Atoll
Reason: Found Floating
Transport Method: Speedboat
Status: Current patient
Species: Olive ridley
Scientific Name: Lepidochelys olivacea
Sex: Unknown
Age: Juvenile
Length: 45 cm
Weight: 11.1 kg
Noora’s story
Noora, a juvenile olive ridley sea turtle, was found floating near Filladhoo island in Haa Alifu Atoll. Ali was enjoying the beach with his family on Hajj Day, when he noticed the head of a sea turtle bobbing in the water. Later on he saw the turtle was still nearby and appeared to be badly injured, so he immediately contacted our emergency hotline for assistance.
Haa Alifu Atoll lies in the north of the Maldives and a long way from our Marine Turtle Rescue Centre in Baa Atoll. Although Noora underwent an unusually long transfer to the Rescue Centre, our team is experienced in managing transport logistics, and we were able to coordinate with others and receive support along the way. Firstly, Noora stayed overnight with Filladhoo´s local police as there were no flights available. The next day, JA Manafaru Resort not only built her transport box, but also transported her by speedboat to their island to await a flight. We are incredibly grateful for their generous support! Noora then flew by Trans Maldivian Airways seaplane to Malé, where she overnighted at our Rehabilitation Centre based at One&Only, North Malé Atoll. The following day she finally arrived at our Marine Turtle Rescue Centre!
Our medical examination revealed ligature injuries on all four flippers, several bone fractures, lung trauma, and signs of internal infection. It looks like she may have been entangled in fishing gear or hit by something large. Our team is now closely monitoring her condition and planning an appropriate course of treatment.
6 July 2025
Noora has already stolen our hearts with her fighting spirit. Despite her injuries she is alert, active and feeds eagerly with an amazing appetite. That’s like having a patient who’s sitting up in bed asking for seconds at dinner, one of the best signs we can see for recovery. Our team has created a special treatment plan just for her. Healing broken flippers takes time, but with her resilience and our expert care, we’re hopeful she’ll make a full recovery.
10 August 2025
We’re delighted to report that Noora’s external injuries have healed beautifully. The most challenging wound on her front left flipper is steadily improving thanks to our dedicated care. Last month, we carried out a cutting-edge treatment for Noora, called Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy – an approach that harnesses the body’s natural healing powers to regenerate tissue and reduce inflammation. What truly brightens our day is watching Noora at feeding time. She approaches meals with enthusiasm and isn’t picky about her food, maintaining healthy appetite which is crucial for her recovery. With continued wound care and medical attention, we’re optimistic about her progress.
7 September 2025
Noora faced a challenging moment when her left front flipper showed signs of necrosis, meaning tissue cells in her flipper were dying. We performed a minor surgical procedure to remove the affected tissue and preserve healthy healing. We’re pleased to report she recovered beautifully from this intervention and continues responding well to regular wound care. Her enthusiasm during feeding sessions remains wonderfully strong, and her non-selective appetite means she’s getting all the nutrition needed for optimal healing. Each medical check-up confirms she’s on a positive healing trajectory.
Fun fact: The name Noora is the feminine form of Noor, which in Arabic means light or radiance.
Noora’s adopters
Noora has been kindly adopted by Noora, by Franziska & Mario Baum, by Ava, Lea, Janine & Michael and by Antje, Denny & Jodee Lynn Brunsch by Amy and by Jolanthe Maschke.
