Chayen

Chayen is an adult female olive ridley sea turtle who was found entangled in a ghost net by the security team at Hard Rock Hotel Maldives, in South Malé Atoll. There were two sea turtles entangled in the net, and the team immediately freed them both. One sea turtle was able to dive and swim away, but Chayen was unable to swim properly and was subsequently swept into the lagoon area. The Marine Discovery Center (MDC) team was notified and they contacted our hotline for guidance. Chayen stayed with the MDC team for two nights while arrangements were made for her transfer by seaplane to our veterinary facility.

Our initial medical examination revealed deep ligature injuries on both Chayen`s left flippers and a moderate ligature injury on her right front flipper. There was also significant algae growth on her carapace, suggesting she had been floating for some time. She was mildly buoyant but was observed attempting to dive occasionally, and blood tests revealed moderate anaemia. Our veterinary team is now closely monitoring her condition and preparing an appropriate treatment plan.

Fun fact: “Cha-yen” means Thai tea, a sweet and very popular drink. Her rescuer shared that many of their staff are Thai, which inspired the name.

11 October 2026
Chayen’s condition continues to fluctuate. She has been a little picky with her food lately, but she has developed a strong preference for fish eggs and gobbles them up whenever she can! Her latest blood results indicate the kidney dysfunction and internal infection are ongoing, however we are encouraged to see some improvement in her anaemia. We are also happy with her diving ability, as she is able to rest on the bottom of her tank. We continue to monitor Chayen’s condition closely and will adjust her treatment and supportive care as needed.

6 September 2026
Chayen’s progress has been fluctuating recently. Her latest blood tests show that she still has an ongoing infection and kidney dysfunction. We have adjusted her treatment plan accordingly to address these concerns. Fortunately, her appetite remains strong despite her condition, and she is still an absolute food vacuum most of the time! We will continue to monitor her closely and provide the supportive care she needs.

9 August 2026
Chayen has experienced a small setback in her recovery. Recent blood tests over the past month have indicated the presence of an internal infection. We have already begun treatment, and encouragingly, she appears to be responding well. She also remains moderately anaemic and continues to receive supportive care. The good news is that, despite these challenges, Chayen’s appetite remains strong. She is still actively diving around her tank and spends much of her time resting comfortably on the bottom, which are both positive signs. We will continue to monitor her condition closely and adjust her treatment as needed to support her recovery.

12 July 2026
Chayen’s condition remains stable. Her appetite is excellent, and she is far from a picky eater, finishing most of her meals with enthusiasm! The ligature wound on her left hind flipper has fully healed, and she is now using the flipper much more. The ligature injury on her left front flipper is still slightly open, so we continue to administer regular wound care. Chayen is still anaemic, and we are continuing her supportive therapy alongside a carefully planned nutritional programme to support her recovery. She also undergoes weekly health checks to closely monitor her condition and adjust her care as needed. We are encouraged by her progress and look forward to seeing her continue to improve.

7 June 2026
Chayen’s condition has remained generally stable, and there is plenty of good news to share this month. We recently moved her to a different tank while some maintenance work is being carried out in her usual home. She took a little time to settle in and her appetite dipped for a few days, but she is already back to vacuuming up her food with enthusiasm! Chayen´s wounds are healing beautifully, and most excitingly, we are seeing more movement in her left flippers. For a sea turtle, healthy flipper movement is everything — it is how they swim, hunt and navigate the ocean, so this is a great sign that her body is healing well. Our veterinary team continues to care for her wounds regularly and keep a close watch on her overall health.

10 May 2026
Over the last month, Chayen`s progress has slowed. During the last few weeks she faced a small setback as her left front flipper became a little more swollen, but after treatment she’s doing much better and is already back to using it a little more. Chayen is still anaemic so we continue to monitor her condition closely and remain hopeful for a continued recovery.

12 April 2026
Chayen is doing wonderfully in the large tank, and her enthusiasm at mealtimes alone is enough to brighten anyone’s day — she has been hoovering up her meals at impressive speed and leaving absolutely nothing behind. It is one of our favourite things to see!
Her diving ability remains good, and in a particularly exciting development, she has started moving her left flippers, which is a really positive sign for her recovery. Those flippers are still swollen and require ongoing wound care, so we are continuing to treat them diligently, but the fact that movement is returning fills us with real optimism. Her blood results show she is still moderately anaemic, which we are keeping a close eye on.

8 March 2026
Chayen’s progress has been amazing! After being observed diving occasionally in the ICU tank, she was upgraded to the large tank, where she is now diving beautifully. Both of her left flippers are still slightly swollen, and their movement is not yet fully back to normal compared to the others. Her ligature injuries have improved significantly but are not completely healed, so she will continue to receive regular wound care. She remains moderately anaemic, and our veterinary team will continue to monitor her condition closely.