Bubble

juvenile Olive Ridley turtle (RB.LO.227), admitted 14 January 2022, Helengeli, N.Malé Atoll, Maldives

Weight / Length: 10.0kg / 44.8cm (on admittance);

Bubble was found by dive-boat staff at OBLU Helengele (North Malé Atoll), floating on the ocean surface, repeatedly trying to dive underwater but without success.

On 14 January, she arrived at our Turtle Rescue Centre (Kuda Huraa) in a stressed state, and it took several days for her to settle in.

19 January – Bubble is still very buoyant, but she is slowly becoming more comfortable swimming around her large rehabilitation pool. She does not have a strong appetite, but has been eating some crab.

Bubble stranded Olive Ridley sea turtle Maldives

Update 24 January 2022

Sadly, Bubble was found unresponsive in her tank this morning, and has been pronounced deceased. Her final weight was down to 9.0kg, as she had a poor appetite.

After performing a necropsy, we suspect the cause of death to be blockages in her stomach which ultimately lead to starvation. She also had an excess of air in her intestines and body cavity, which caused her positive bouyancy.