Uno

juvenile Olive Ridley turtle (RB.LO.230), admitted 11 March 2022, Baa Atoll, Maldives

Weight / Length: 6.3kg / 36.0cm (on admittance);

Uno was found floating on the ocean surface in Baa Atoll by a local fisherman, and was admitted to our turtle rescue centre at Landaa Giraavaru on 11 March for assessment and treatment.

Uno presents serious wounds on the front flippers, and has lost the tip of the back left flipper, due to prolonged entanglement with a ghost net. She’s currently undergoing treatment to try to save the front flippers.

Uno has responded well to treatment, and is now much more energetic. His deep cuts are healing slowly, and we hope for an early release back into the ocean.

April

Uno is making excellent progress. He is eating well and resting on the bottom of his pool. His injuries are also healing well. However, he still has a way to go, and it will be at least another month before he is ready to be released.

May

Uno is making excellent progress. His wounds continue to heal well; he is curious and interacts with the enrichment devices (‘pool toys’). It won’t be long before he’s ready to be released back into the ocean.

Photos, above > Uno participating in our experiment to study Environmental Enrichment Devices (‘pool toys’), and their role in turtle rehabilitation in the Maldives.

Uno’s wound continues to heal, but due to a recent complication he was transferred to the ORP on 28 June to receive more intensive treatments. He has settled into his new home, and was placed on a course of antibiotics to avoid infection of his wounds. Following a series of X-rays, it was decided that surgical intervention was not required, but a bone infection means that special care must be taken when handling him (high risk of flipper fracture). More updates on Uno’s ORP page (photos c/o ORP).