Maw 
female Olive Ridley turtle (RB.LO.176), admitted 21 June 2019, Himmafushi, Kaafu Atoll, Maldives
Weight / Length: 18.0kg / 56.2cm (on admission);
Maw was found floating on the ocean surface, close to the local island Himmafushi (Kaafu Atoll) by Maldives Animal Welfare. She presented double amputation wounds on the left side, already healed from a previous entanglement. She didn’t appear to be dehydrated, but is suffering from buoyancy syndrome (floating and unable to dive).
Maw is under treatment and observation at our turtle rehabilitation centre. As soon as she starts diving and is able to rest at the bottom of her pool, she will be released back into the wild.
Updates May 2020
Maw’s favourite time of the day is breakfast and dinner! She quickly swims rush from one side of the pool to the other, to get a bite of her favourite foods.
She still suffers from turtle buoyancy syndrome, and is unable to dive down to the bottom of her pool.
Updates January 2021
This month, we transferred Maw from Kuda Huraa to our turtle rehabilitation centre at Landaa Giraavaru, where she will have larger pools to swim (including our ocean enclosure in the coming weeks). Hopefully, with more space and some inspiration from other marine creatures, she will regain her ability to dive.
Maw has already adapted to her new pool and her pool-mates; she is very energetic and always eager to eat.
February
Maw is healthy but somewhat lethargic, and is less enthusiastic about food than our other turtle patients.
April
Maw continues to be in good health; her appetite has improved, and she is learning how to interact with the variety of environmental enrichment devices (“pool toys”) we have introduced to encourage curiosity and interaction.
July
Maw showed no changes in health status this month. She has a very healthy appetite and is now interacting with all the pool enrichment devices. She enjoys her regular swims out in the lagoon and is actively trying to dive.
September
November
Maw showed no changes in health status this month. She has a very healthy appetite and likes interacting with all the enrichment devices. She enjoys her swims in the ocean and is actively trying to dive (without success).
April 2022
Maw has been out swimming on the house reef several times this month. Her condition is unchanged but she remains in good spirits. She has recently been moved to the ocean enclosure and is enjoying the extra space and change of scenery.
May
Maw’s condition remains the same. In the ocean pen, she was energetically practising her diving. Since returning to our rehab pool, her appetite is excellent, and she has even lost a little weight with all the exercise.
June
Maw helping out with our experiment designed to study the role of Environmental Enrichment Devices (‘pool toys’) in turtle rehabilitation programs at turtle rescue centres in the Maldives.
