Turtle patient 253: Theen, juvenile olive ridley
Theen, a juvenile olive ridley sea turtle, was found entangled in a ghost net by a snorkel guide during an excursion in Baa Atoll. After being released from the net, Theen was unable to dive, so she was retrieved and transferred to our Marine Turtle Rescue Centre for urgent medical care.
The vitals
Admission Date: 22 May 2025
Patient Number: 253
Rescue Location: Baa Atoll
Reason: Found Entangled
Transport Method: Speedboat
Status: Released
Species: Olive ridley
Scientific Name: Lepidochelys olivacea
Sex: Unknown
Age: Juvenile
Length: 44.5 cm
Weight: 10.4 kg
Theen’s story
Theen is an olive ridley sea turtle who was found by a local guide during a snorkelling trip near Goidhoo island in Baa Atoll, Maldives. He spotted ghost nets floating in the water and, upon inspection, discovered a sea turtle entangled within them. He attempted to release her immediately, but she was unable to dive. He then contacted our veterinary team over our emergency hotline.
Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu resort, at which our Marine Turtle Rescue Centre is located, kindly arranged a boat to retrieve the injured sea turtle. Unfortunately, due to poor weather conditions, they were unable to collect Theen that same day. She was cared for overnight on the nearby island of Fulhadhoo, in Baa Atoll. The following day, our team transported her by speedboat to the Rescue Centre.
Theen is being treated for injuries to both her front flippers, head wounds, anaemia, and Buoyancy Syndrome – a condition that prevents sea turtles from diving, leaving them floating at the surface. Our team is now closely monitoring her recovery.
6 July 2025
Theen is doing so well that we have already taken her off medication, an important milestone in her recovery! When she arrived she couldn’t dive properly and had trouble moving her left front flipper. We are giving her regular flipper exercises to help build back her strength, and now she’s diving confidently to the bottom of her tank to grab her food. This is not only a great sign of appetite but also an essential part of her recovery. These feeding dives will help her practice the skills and gain the strength and coordination she’ll need when she returns to the ocean. Theen is still a bit anaemic, which can affect energy levels and slow down healing, but she is showing great strength and remarkable progress.
31 July 2025
We’re delighted to report that Theen achieved excellent progress throughout her recovery. Her consistent activity in the tank; diving regularly and feeding naturally from the bottom, demonstrated the strong recovery indicators we look for. Our comprehensive final medical assessment confirmed that Theen had regained the necessary skills and strength required for life in the wild.
We released Theen from the beach adjacent to the house reef at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu. We are confident that she is well-prepared and we wish her the best in her natural home. Thank you to everyone who supported her.
Theen’s adopters
Theen has kindly been adopted by Patrick, by Lasse, by Mercè Martí Escudé and by Reinhard & Undine.
