Soneva and Olive Ridley Project Open Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Centre in Maldives
Wednesday 23rd of October 2024
Soneva, the pioneering luxury resort brand, has teamed up with the non-profit charity Olive Ridley Project (ORP) to open the Noonu Atoll Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Centre in the Maldives. Located at Soneva Jani, this centre is the largest of ORP's three facilities in the country, serving as a crucial step-down location for sea turtles recovering from injuries and preparing to return to their natural habitats.
On September 14, 2024, the centre welcomed its first patient, an adult female olive ridley turtle named Nakaiy. Nakaiy was rescued from the Lhaviyani Atoll after becoming entangled in a ghost net, leading to injuries to her neck, mouth, and front flipper, significantly impairing her mobility. Since her rescue, Nakaiy has been undergoing a tailored rehabilitation regimen, including Targeted External Weight Therapy (TEWT) and submersible buoy feeding sessions designed to encourage natural diving behaviors.
Ghost gear, which includes derelict fishing equipment, poses a serious threat to marine life. An estimated 640,000 tonnes of this debris enter the oceans each year, accounting for about 10% of ocean plastics. Olive ridley turtles are particularly vulnerable to such threats, often found injured or entangled. In response to this crisis, Dr. Martin Stelfox established the Olive Ridley Project in 2013, aiming to understand the plight of these turtles and rehabilitate those in need. Since its first rescue centre opened in 2017, the project has successfully rehabilitated and released 141 injured turtles.
Soneva Jani has collaborated with ORP since 2017 and recently welcomed new Sea Turtle Biologist Neus Segura, along with Maldivian intern Nawha Ibrahim, to manage the centre. They work closely with the ORP Veterinary Team, the largest and most experienced in the Maldives, to oversee turtle care, remove ghost nets from the ocean, assist in turtle rescues, and monitor nesting activities.
Guests at Soneva Jani are encouraged to engage with these conservation efforts through guided tours of the rehabilitation centre. Visitors can meet resident sea turtles like Nakaiy and learn about their recovery journeys. Expert-led discussions provide deeper insights into the threats sea turtles face and the daily care they receive, promoting awareness of the vital role of rehabilitation centres in marine conservation.
Through this initiative, Soneva and the Olive Ridley Project not only aim to restore the health of injured sea turtles but also strive to inspire guests to take part in marine conservation efforts. The Noonu Atoll Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Centre is a significant step toward fostering a greater understanding of the ocean’s delicate ecosystems and the importance of protecting its inhabitants.