Pioneering luxury resort brand and the non-profit charity (ORP) have announced the opening of the Noonu Atoll Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Centre in the Maldives. Located at , the centre is the largest of ORP’s three sea turtle rehabilitation centres in the island nation and serves as a step-down facility for patients that do not require intensive veterinary care and are being prepared to return to the wild. On September 14, 2024, the Noonu Atoll Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Centre welcomed its first patient , an adult female olive ridley sea turtle, who was found entangled in a ghost net in the Lhaviyani Atoll.
She suffered injuries to her neck, mouth and left front flipper, causing a significant loss of mobility. Since her rescue, Nakaiy has undergone a comprehensive medical regimen and is making remarkable progress in her recovery. However, she still suffers from a buoyancy disorder and continues to undergo tailored dive training at Soneva Jani.
Nakaiy currently receives Targeted External Weight Therapy (TEWT) with submersible buoy feeding sessions to promote natural diving behaviours. In the 1970s, it was estimated that 640,000 tonnes of derelict fishing gear, also known as ghost gear, was produced each year and accounted for around 10% of ocean plastics. Since then, this number is expected to have increased.
The vulnerable olive ridley sea turtle, in particular, is often found entangled in ghost nets or floating injured on the surface of Maldivian waters. In response, Dr Mar.