Join Bethany at Kuda Huraa, as she treats our resident Olive Ridley turtles, found injured and entangled in drifting ghost fishing nets. And then take a rehabilitation swim in the lagoon with Emma and Ari.
Meanwhile, Dr Katrina, our resident veterinarian, is monitoring our turtle nests down on the beach at Landaa, awaiting the precious little hatchlings. 💚
As I finish my marine internship, I can’t believe how quickly the time has gone! 💙
Kuda Huraa now feels like home, and my days are spent monitoring coral frames, caring for our injured turtles, and leading snorkel trips. I am also researching ‘sea turtle buoyancy syndrome’ to improve our rehabilitation protocols to aid more turtles in the future.
Some of our rescue turtles are unable to be released due to the severity of their permanent injuries. Turtles suffering from long-term ‘buoyancy syndrome’ and those with missing flippers are vulnerable in the ocean and would struggle to find food.
Ongoing, we try to re-home these patients to overseas aquariums, to receive a high standard of lifelong care, and to act as global ambassadors about the threats that sea turtles face.
Read Kat’s Diary, to find out what it’s like to be a veterinarian working in the Maldives!
Firstly, every day is different … we treat Olive Ridleys rescued from entanglement in ghost nets (discarded fishing gear), Hawksbills covered in barnacles, and Green turtles unable to dive below the water surface.
Recently, we’ve even been caring for two orphaned fruit bats! 🦇
Environmental enrichment is the practice of adding objects and other stimuli to the surroundings of captive animals to encourage them to express natural behaviours. Enrichment aims to improve quality of life and promote positive animal welfare by providing both mental and physical stimulation.
In our latest study, we aim to find out how our turtle patients interact with various diverse types of environmental enrichment.
‘April’ is now our sixth “Flying Turtle” ✈ to find a safe new home overseas.
Read the full story of her intrepid journey, as she leaves Kuda Huraa on a VIP transfer … heading all the way to Scotland for a bagpipes welcome!
A huge thank you to the SEA LIFE team for giving ‘April’ a new lease of life in her professional aquarium home.
Born and bred in the Maldives, Maanee grew up with the ocean in her backyard! From an early age, the natural beauty of marine life captivated her, and she decided to follow her passion by studying the conservation of marine environments.
🎓 After graduating in Tropical Environmental Biology, Maanee interned with us for 3 months, and is now a valued full-time member of our team at Kuda Huraa.
Hi! My name is Jenn, and I am the new Reefscapers Marine Biologist at Four Seasons Kuda Huraa.
I was incredibly lucky to land this job in the midst of the global pandemic, and I am very excited to share my Marine Savers journey with you! My job role, experiences, thoughts and feelings … a rollercoaster ride, long before I set foot on this tropical island paradise! 🌴
Hi! I’m Ellie, the marine biology intern at Landaa Giraavaru. Having recently graduated in Zoology, I am taking a year out to gain work experience … and what an incredible experience it has been so far!
It’s challenging to learn all the relevant fish & coral biology so quickly … but the Marine Savers team is amazing, and it’s a tropical paradise here!
It’s Maanee’s final month with us, and she’s been a huge help with our turtle rescue patients. Learn about the different personalities that each turtle displays, and read how we nurse them back to health before release back into the ocean.
Plus there’s the story of Tara, the juvenile Olive Ridley turtle found covered in oil, who receives a special spa treatment … a mayonnaise massage! 😃
October 2012 – Our environmental programmes have been recognised in the prestigious Condé Nast World Traveler World Savers Awards 2012 and Travel & Leisure’s 2012 Global Vision Awards.
January 2012 – Saifa, the young female Olive Ridley turtle, was found entangled in a fishing net suffering from minor lacerations and buoyancy problems due to stress.
December 2011 – Two injured turtles have been rescued this month.
2011 – On 26 June, the Landaa Giraavaru dive team found an injured female Olive Ridley turtle entangled in a fishing net close by Hanifaru bay. They rescued it and brought it back to the marine biologists here at the MDC. This new patient had already lost one front flipper and the other one was deeply lacerated. Watch our video of Juno – a recap of the story, ending with her release back into the ocean.
November 2011 – Dwindling sea turtle populations across Maldivian waters have prompted Four Seasons Resorts Maldives to take action to help safeguard the world’s oldest existing reptiles. This government-endorsed initiative works to increase awareness of turtle conservation, safeguard nests and rear turtle hatchlings until they are big and strong enough to protect themselves in the wild.
September 2011 – 127 Green Turtle hatchlings emerged from the sand of Landaa Giraavaru island. Watch this video to see what happened next …
Here we bring you some of the latest Tweets and Facebook posts from Four Seasons Resorts Maldives. You don’t need to be a user of social media to get up to date – see all the very latest news right here !
