Turtle Patient 229: Ayaan, Juvenile Olive Ridley
Ayaan, a juvenile olive ridley, was found floating and unable to dive by the excursion team at Arena Hotels in Kaafu Atoll.
The Vitals
Admission Date: 19 December 2023
Patient Number: 229
Rescue Location: Kaafu Atoll
Reason: Found Floating
Transport Method: Speedboat & Seaplane
Status: Deceased 24 December 2023
Species: Olive ridley
Scientific Name: Lepidochelys olivacea
Sex: Unknown
Age: Juvenile
Length: 11 cm
Weight: 0.15 kg
Ayaan’s Story
Ayaan is a juvenile olive ridley that was found floating and unable to dive by the excursion team at Arena Hotels. He was first transferred to Maafushi Island where Shafeeg promptly called us for assistance and arranged Ayaan’s transfer to the Marine Turtle Rescue Centre.
Ayaan’s right front flipper has a suspected congenital deformity which means he has a very reduced range of motion causing him difficulty in balancing and diving. He has also been passing microplastics in his faeces so we are closely monitoring him.
24 December 2023
Despite the dedicated efforts of the team, Ayaan sadly passed away on Christmas Eve. The suspected cause of death is linked to toxicity associated with the ingestion of microplastics. Ayaan’s case highlights the pressing issue of microplastics and their detrimental impact on juvenile sea turtles, especially those that opportunistically feed on what they find on the surface.
