Loretta 
female Olive Ridley turtle (RB.LO.215), admitted 04 January 2021, South Male’ Atoll, Maldives
Weight / Length: 18.0kg / 56.1cm (on admittance);
Loretta, a female Olive Ridley sea turtle, was found floating on the ocean surface in South Malé Atoll (Maldives) by a live-aboard safari boat. She was unable to dive below the water surface, suffering from ‘turtle buoyancy syndrome’.
Upon admission to our turtle rescue centre, Loretta presented a healed right front flipper amputation and abrasions on her carapace, likely from a ghost net entanglement long ago. She was also dehydrated and stressed.
We administered fluids to Loretta on arrival, and she is now under close observation and receiving treatment. She is eating and actively swimming around our turtle rehabilitation pool that she currently shares with Maw.
January 2021
Loretta has now completed her fluid treatment. She currently has her own pool since Maw’s departure to our turtle rehabilitation centre at Landaa. She continues to eat well and actively swims around her pool.
May
Loretta is active but remains buoyant at the water surface (suffering from ‘turtle buoyancy syndrome’). During ocean swims, she tries hard to dive down and swim away, so we will increase her trips out to the lagoon.
July
Loretta remains buoyant with no improvements. She is always looking forward to feeding time, and likes to relax in the corner of her pool. We are looking for a ‘forever home’ for her, as part of our 2021 “Flying Turtles” program.
August
November
Loretta photographed in her rehabilitation pool at Kuda Huraa, November 2021
29 December 2021
Sadly, Loretta was found unresponsive in her pool this morning. After a period of ill-health, we started fluid tube-feeding last week, but sadly she succumbed to infection.
