Soneva and Olive Ridley Project open largest sea turtle rehab centre in Maldives

Soneva has partnered with the Olive Ridley Project (ORP), a non-profit organisation, to launch the Noonu Atoll Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Centre in the Maldives. Situated at Soneva Jani, this facility is the largest of ORP’s three sea turtle rehabilitation centres in the country. It functions as a step-down facility for sea turtles that no longer require intensive care, preparing them for release back into the wild.

On September 14, 2024, the centre welcomed its first patient, Nakaiy, an adult female olive ridley sea turtle. Nakaiy was rescued after being found entangled in a ghost net in Lhaviyani Atoll, suffering from injuries to her neck, mouth, and left front flipper, which severely restricted her mobility. Since her rescue, she has been undergoing comprehensive medical care and is making significant strides in her recovery. However, she continues to battle a buoyancy disorder and is undergoing specialised dive training at Soneva Jani. Her treatment includes Targeted External Weight Therapy (TEWT) and submersible buoy feeding sessions to encourage natural diving behaviour.

The problem of ghost gear, or abandoned fishing equipment, has been a longstanding issue in ocean conservation. In the 1970s, it was estimated that around 640,000 tonnes of ghost gear were discarded annually, accounting for roughly 10% of ocean plastics—a number that has likely increased. Vulnerable species like the olive ridley sea turtle are frequently found entangled in these nets or injured on the surface of Maldivian waters. In response, Dr. Martin Stelfox founded the Olive Ridley Project in 2013 to better understand and address this issue, focusing on the rehabilitation and release of injured sea turtles. Since its first rescue centre opened in 2017, ORP has successfully rehabilitated and released 141 sea turtles.

Soneva Jani has been collaborating with ORP since 2017 and recently welcomed Sea Turtle Biologist Neus Segura, along with Maldivian intern Nawha Ibrahim, to lead the centre’s operations. Under the daily supervision of ORP’s experienced veterinary team, the largest in the Maldives, they assist in removing ghost nets, rescuing injured turtles, monitoring nesting activity, and contributing sea turtle Photo-IDs to a database that tracks the turtles in Noonu Atoll.

In keeping with Soneva’s mission to create extraordinary experiences, guests at Soneva Jani have the opportunity to engage in conservation efforts through guided tours of the rehabilitation centre. During these tours, they can meet sea turtles like Nakaiy and hear their unique recovery stories. Educational talks led by Neus and Nawha provide insight into the challenges sea turtles face and the care they receive. These experiences foster greater awareness of sea turtle conservation and emphasise the importance of rehabilitation efforts worldwide.