Our double-amputee rescue Olive Ridley sea turtle patient ‘Maw‘
Hi, my name is Shyler, and I’m the new marine biologist intern for Reefscapers in Kuda Huraa. In July, I flew all the way from Australia to get here, and over this last month I can honestly say that it has been such a rewarding experience. So far, I’ve assisted in restoring damaged corals on Reefscapers frames, monitored changes in the marine environment, and educated our Resort guests about the value of protecting the coral reefs and marine wildlife they may encounter while they are visiting the Maldives.
When I first arrived here at the Marine Discovery Centre, I got to welcome our new turtle patient ‘Maw’. Maw was found entangled in a ghost fishing net, and in the process of trying to free herself she sadly lost her two left flippers. She also developed buoyancy syndrome, so she is unable to dive below the surface of the water, making her more vulnerable to predators. Each day I feed her twice, observe any behavioural changes, and educate the interested guests on her condition and the detrimental implications of commercial fishing. Recently, we have taken her out for an ocean swim to help build strength and mental wellness. This was a unique experience that I was very grateful to be a part of, and I’m looking forward to participating more in the future.
Currently, I’m working on a research project with Thais, our resident veterinarian, to develop a 3D-printed prosthetic limb for Maw, to assist in her rehabilitation. The development of a prosthetic limb could help to improve the mobility of a sea turtle with missing body parts, and alleviate some physical and mental stresses. We aim to create a lightweight, durable attachment, with minimal application time, properly aligned to the residual limb. This has been a stimulating avenue to direct my focus, as globally there have only been a few occurrences of prosthetics being created for sea turtles (including our very own Trooper, back in 2018). Since aquatic environments present significant challenges for balance and control, prosthetics for aquatic animals remain a relatively new topic, so it will be interesting to discover what designs work best for Maw’s mobility.
I also assist in our marine identification projects, which use photos of the fins (dolphins) and the facial scute patterns (sea turtles). These morphological features are unique to the individual, so we can run these images through our database to identify whether this is a new individual photographed in the Maldives, or if it’s one we have identified before (a r-sighting). If it’s newly identified, the photographer can suggest a name for the turtle, which is a fun perk of the job. Furthermore, we also note the behavioural patterns within the dolphin pods we encounter. Subsequently, these tasks are an effective and non-invasive way to better understand the dolphin and turtle populations within the Maldives, and it has been interesting to contribute to collecting this data.
One of the highlights of my internship was working on the Reefscapers coral propagation project, creating new coral colonies in underwater nurseries. I have spent a lot of time in the water, both snorkelling and diving, to collect data on the coral health of our frames, and taking monitoring photos of the colonies. I have also helped to determine which of the coral species on our frames are producing eggs, and reattaching any fallen “coral fragments of opportunity”.
Visiting the reef at night was an incredible experience, to see the biofluorescent corals on our frames standing out from the dark water surrounding them. It was also fascinating to observe the behavioural changes in the nocturnal marine wildlife. Going into next month, I’m looking forward to monitoring some of our frames at night, and hope to witness coral spawning.
So far, my internship has been an incredible experience. The researchers and staff at Reefscapers are incredibly passionate about their work, and it is inspiring to be a part of such a dedicated team. It is nice to have the opportunity to meet like-minded people who are also passionate and value the marine environment.
I have learned so much about marine biology, conservation, and the importance of protecting our oceans, and I’m looking forward to continuing to expand my knowledge and understanding in this discipline. Furthermore, I’m also gaining valuable skills that will aid me in my future career and endeavours.
Goodbye for now
Shyler 💙
Galaxea fascicularis (commonly known as ‘octopus coral’) – a stony coral in the family Euphylliidae
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here in the Maldives ?
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