Ele

Ele is a large adult male olive ridley turtle who was found entangled in a ghost net near Sun Siyam Olhuveli in South Malé Atoll. Resort staff carefully freed him and brought him to safety when it became clear he was badly injured. Ele was transferred first to our Sea Turtle Care Centre at One&Only Reethi Rah for overnight care, before making the onward journey to the Sea Turtle Health Institute on Jawakara, the following day. 

Ele arrived with serious injuries; an open fracture on his right hind flipper and wounds on his neck and both front flippers from where the net had cut into him. His blood work has also shown signs of infection, which we started treatment for. On top of all this, Ele is dealing with Buoyancy Syndrome.  

25 April 2026
It is with great sadness that we share some difficult news from the Sea Turtle Health Institute. On the 25th of April 2026 we lost our beloved Ele. He suffered severe entanglement trauma, Buoyancy Syndrome and resulting intestinal disease due to entanglement in a ghost net. Recently he began to deteriorate and despite our best efforts, he succumbed to his injuries. Ele’s journey with us was filled with many challenges, but also moments of strength and resilience. He touched the hearts of everyone who cared for him. We are grateful to everyone who supported helped to make sure we did everything possible to save him.

12 April 2026
Ele is taking things steadily this month, and we are giving him all the time and patience he needs. Adjusting to a new environment isn’t easy, and Ele is doing this in his own quiet way. His appetite remains a little unpredictable, so we are trying to tempt him by offering a variety of his favourite seafood to make sure he is getting the nutrition his body needs to heal.
And heal he is — the really wonderful news is that his amputation wounds have improved significantly and are almost fully closed. This is a huge step forward, and a testament to the dedication of our veterinary team and Ele’s own resilience.

8 March 2026
Ele`s recovery has been gradual and has required real medical intervention. Earlier this month, we performed a partial amputation of his fractured hind flipper, as the tissue was unfortunately deteriorating and this was the best path forward for his long-term health. The surgery went well, and the wound is healing nicely, supported by regular wound care and our trusted medical-grade manuka honey. We have begun Targeted External Weight Therapy to help him find his balance and dive underwater. His appetite is still a little inconsistent, and we are patiently offering him a wide variety of seafood to tempt him. Ele has had a tough start, but he is surrounded by dedicated care every single day.