Turtle Feeding Techniques
We continue to experiment on improving and diversifying our turtle feeding techniques here at Kuda Huraa, and recently have installed pipes of sea grass into the turtle pools to encourage bottom feeding.
In the wild, green turtles feed mainly on algae and sea grass growing on the seabed, so placing pipes in this way helps to mimic their natural habitat. We are also planning to create shelters in the pool to act as places to hide away from disturbances.
Nest protection
We have been very busy this month, meeting with various organisations from around the Maldives to create a strong network of locals and marine biologists for our nest protection programme.
We have met with Atoll Volunteers who are based on the island of Naifaru and work mainly in Lhaviyani Atoll regarding nest protection and rehabilitation. We also met with leaders of the Arabiyya Scout Group who have a chain of volunteers all around the Maldives, and are interested in taking part in our turtle conservation programme. Marine biologists from Six Senses in Laamu Atoll and from Velidhu Resort in Noonu Atoll are also taking part in our nest protection programme.
Our turtle biologists will continue to work closely with these organisations by arranging workshops and visits, with the aim of sharing techniques and information to establish a strong national network of contacts to help in joint nest protection and rearing programmes.
Turtle Rehabilitation
At the moment we have two resident patients here at Kuda Huraa :
Jessica – is an adult female Olive Ridley that was found in early March in the lagoon of Gili Lankan Fushi Resort. She has three flippers missing and is suffering from a buoyancy problem. We have performed an operation to release the air trapped in her body cavity, and hopefully this will help to alleviate her buoyancy issues.
Slicer – is a sub-adult Olive Ridley, found on 21 April by our launch team floating near Club Med channel. She was entangled in a fishing net and suffering from a large shell fracture and a deep flipper cut – probably caused by collision with a boat propeller. The fracture has now been successfully sealed and the cut stitched up, and Slicer is well on the way to recovery – thankfully she was found at just the right time!
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