Conservation in Practice: Our Partnership with the Olive Ridley Project

A Science-Led Mission

Founded in 2013 by Dr Martin Stelfox, who was working as a Marine Biologist in the Maldives at the time, the Olive Ridley Project is a science-led conservation charity dedicated to protecting sea turtles and their habitats across the Indian Ocean and beyond. What began in the Maldives as a response to olive ridley turtles entangled in ghost nets has grown into an international organisation working across rescue, conservation medicine, research, and educational outreach. Through sea turtle rescue and care  centres, clinical and health studies, as well as  community outreach, ORP applies a holistic “One Health” approach to its work: recognising that the wellbeing of sea turtles, marine ecosystems, and coastal communities are deeply interconnected. 

Since 2021, Oevaali Art Shop has proudly partnered with ORP, supporting their work to rescue, provide clinical care, and protect sea turtles across the oceans we call home. 

Clinical Care in the Maldives

Since its founding, ORP’s Marine Turtle Rescue Centre (MTRC) in the Maldives has treated more than 268 injured and sick sea turtles, with over 155 released after providing clinical care: an excellent outcome in wildlife medicine. Established in 2017 as the country’s first fully equipped, veterinary surgeon-led sea turtle rescue centre, MTRC pioneered dedicated clinical care for turtles in the Maldives. 

Over the years, the centre has welcomed 10 veterinarians, 2 nurses, 27 veterinary trainees from 12 countries, 24 interns, and 345 volunteers. Through its satellite tagging programme, seven olive ridley turtles have been tracked to better understand their movements and long-term survival in the Indian Ocean.

From Rescue to Release

Gus: Recovery After Entanglement

In May 2022, Gus - a juvenile green sea turtle - was rescued after severe ghost net entanglement in South Ari Atoll. Weak and dehydrated, he required amputation of his left front flipper. After six months of clinical care at MTRC, he was released in December 2022. 

Just two months later, Gus was re-spotted in the seagrass meadows of Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu. Identified through Photo-ID by his distinctive injury (missing flipper) and unique facial scale pattern, he appeared strong and cautious. 

Zeliya: A Milestone in Conservation Medicine

Zeliya, a sub-adult olive ridley rescued in April 2023 with catastrophic ghost net injuries, marked a milestone in sea turtle medicine. In an attempt to give Zeliya a second shot at swimming free in the ocean, ORP’s team implemented its Limb Salvaging Protocol: combining platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, laser treatment, acupuncture, and advanced wound care to preserve limb function. 

Zeliya became the first olive ridley in the world to successfully receive PRP therapy. After nearly ten months of intensive care, she was released at dawn in February 2024 from the shores of Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu. 

Shara: Tracking the Ocean

Shara’s case demonstrates how clinical care advances research. Rescued in January 2023 with pneumonia, plastic ingestion, and buoyancy syndrome that left her unable to dive, she recovered after five months of treatment and was released fitted with a satellite tag under ORP’s #ORPTrack programme. Over 230 days, Shara travelled approximately 6,300 kilometres across the Indian Ocean, diving as deep as 300 metres. Her data is helping researchers identify critical habitats and inform stronger conservation strategies for olive ridleys across the region. 

A Shared Ethos

As a studio shaped by island life, we recognise that cultural expression and ecological stewardship are inseparable. ORP’s science-led approach of integrating rescue and research reflects a sustained commitment to marine health in the oceans we inhabit and draw from. It is a privilege to support this work and we look forward to seeing the continued impact of ORP’s leadership across the Indian Ocean and beyond. 

A Commitment in Form: The Turtle Pendant in Silver + Sapphire

In support of the organization, we donate 5% of your purchases of the Turtle Silver + Sapphire Pendant to the Olive Ridley Project and their pioneering work for our oceans. 

This article is informed by publicly available research, reports, and communications from The Olive Ridley Project.