State-of-the-art sea turtle health centre opens at Jawakara Islands Maldives
The Sea Turtle Health Institute, a joint initiative by the Olive Ridley Project and Crown & Champa Resorts’ Jawakara Islands Maldives, was officially inaugurated on Sunday.
The facility will focus on the rehabilitation of injured sea turtles and research related to turtle conservation.
The centre was officially opened by Sarah Moosa, Managing Director of Crown & Champa Resorts.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Mohamed Solah, Chief Executive Officer of Crown & Champa Resorts, highlighted the importance of environmental conservation in the Maldives.
“The natural beauty we enjoy today is a direct result of the respect and priority our ancestors gave to the environment,” Solah said.
He added that preserving the environment requires cooperation with relevant authorities and implementation of long-term conservation policies.
Maximilian Polyak, Director of Conservation Medicine at the Olive Ridley Project, said the centre was established through the work of local and international partners.
Drawing on his experience with similar facilities in other countries, Polyak described the centre as a facility designed to support turtle treatment and research under one location.
Ahmed Iyad, Project Coordinator for the Olive Ridley Project Maldives, said the centre would support clinical research and provide opportunities for researchers, students and conservation groups to conduct studies related to sea turtles.
During the ceremony, Sarah Moosa thanked individuals and organisations involved in establishing the facility and said the project reflected efforts within the tourism industry to support sustainability initiatives.
Although officially inaugurated on Sunday, the facility became fully operational in September 2025.
According to the project partners, the centre includes:
- seven treatment tanks for injured turtles;
- two intensive care tanks for critically injured turtles;
- capacity to accommodate up to 14 turtles at one time;
- surgical and diagnostic facilities; and
- a classroom for educational programmes.
The partners stated that the facility is the largest sea turtle treatment centre in the region and the only one in the area providing integrated treatment, research and educational services under a single roof.
Photos: Public Service Media (PSM)
