Turtle territory
The waters around our island are home to green sea turtles, hawksbills, the occasional loggerhead or leatherback, and of course olive ridleys. The Maldives is a nursery for young turtles, a place of growth and protection, vital for the continuation of their species.
But the sea is no longer a safe place. Marine pollution, especially ghost nets (abandoned fishing nets drifting in the currents), pose a deadly threat. Many turtles become entangled, their bodies scarred by the struggle, unable to break free. This is where ORP steps in, working tirelessly to rescue these turtles, treat their injuries, and nurse them back to health — a process we are honoured to be part of.
A refuge for healing
This summer, a new chapter in turtle care unfolded at JOALI BEING with the opening of the Raa Atoll Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Centre. A sanctuary for healing, this new facility is dedicated to the long-term rehabilitation of sick and injured sea turtles before their return to the wild.
We welcome patients from ORP’s main rescue hub in Baa Atoll. Under the watchful eyes of our resident Sea Turtle Biologist, each turtle receives tailored treatment — medication, nutrition, and rehabilitation — to restore strength and prepare them for a smooth, healthy return to the ocean. Recovery is overseen by the ORP veterinary team, who help us implement a range of therapies, from Targeted External Weight Therapy to dive conditioning.
The centre features a spacious tank for long-term stays and a smaller holding tank for overnighters. Our flippered guests stay in aquatic luxury, with an advanced pump system to continuously circulate fresh seawater, monitored daily by our expert team.
Kurangi’s journey
In May 2024, JOALI BEING welcomed its first turtle patient — a young Olive Ridley turtle named Kurangi, who arrived with a story both heartbreaking and hopeful. Kurangi was found entangled in a ghost net and rescued by ORP. She had severe injuries to both her front flippers; tragically, her left flipper had to be amputated, leaving her to face a difficult road ahead.
After receiving specialised care from the expert veterinarians at ORP, Kurangi was transferred to our rehabilitation centre. Despite making good progress, she was still struggling with buoyancy syndrome, a condition that made it difficult for her to dive and stay submerged underwater—critical skills for a turtle to survive in the wild.
Led by our Sea Turtle Biologist, the team started Kurangi on bout-feeding sessions and targeted external weight therapy. Progress was slow but they kept at it patiently, celebrating each small success. Finally, five months after her arrival at the island, Kurangi began diving once again! It was a bittersweet moment: immense joy at her remarkable triumph, yet a tinge of sadness at the thought of saying goodbye…
On 2nd November 2024, Kurangi was released back into the ocean. It was an emotional farewell, with JOALI BEING guests and hosts coming together to share the joy of weightlessness with Kurangi. Together, we bore witness as she dived swam into the shimmering waters, gloriously free as she made her way back home — a living symbol of our collective commitment to the planet and all its residents.
Getting involved
JOALI guests are welcome to visit the rehabilitation centre and meet in-house patients. You can even join our conservation effort by symbolically adopting a turtle. New “parents” receive an adoption certificate and monthly updates on the progress of their adopted turtle.
We also host local residents, including government members, students and community members, for educational visits—an important part of our mission to raise awareness and build capacity for turtle conservation in Raa Atoll.
Science leads the way
Additionally, the centre supports scientific research on sea turtles. The island of JOALI BEING provides an important nesting beach for hawksbill sea turtles, a critically endangered species just one step away from completely disappearing from the world.
Together with ORP, we ensure that turtle nests remain undisturbed during nesting season. Once the eggs hatch, the team performs excavations with permits from local authorities to analyse how many turtle babies went into the sea, how many didn’t survive and the reasons for these outcomes. This data is vital for long-term research on the reproductive biology of sea turtles.
We also conduct in-water surveys using photo ID. Each turtle’s face bears a unique pattern, like a fingerprint, which allows us to identify and monitor the movements of individuals. Photos are uploaded into a central database, helping scientists track migration patterns, critical habitats and the threats turtles face as they navigate the vast ocean.
About ORP
A charity registered in England and the Maldives, ORP is on a mission to protect sea turtles and their habitats. The name ‘Olive Ridley Project’ is a testament to their story, which began with documenting Olive Ridley turtles caught in ghost gear in the Maldives.
