Turtle conservation in the Maldives

Planet

Our local team in Maldives run a well-established turtle centre on Naifaru island, and have many turtles which are under our care. We receive turtles from a number of different sources. Some are rescued from people trying to sell them as pets to tourists and locals alike. Some are donated to the centre by locals who have purchased them as pets; usually as hatchlings. Some are rescued from the ocean after being discovered injured by locals or by nearby resorts.
Our coral restoration efforts in the Maldives have been running for a number of years. In 2016 there was a mass bleaching event here in the Maldives as the result of an El Nino year. An El Nino is a natural phenomenon resulting in a sudden rise of sea temperatures, caused mass coral mortality.
As a volunteer, you may be sent on small expeditions to local islands and reefs to collect naturally broken coral fragments and bring them back to Naifaru to be processed and attached to frames where they can grow into strong corals and help replenish the reefs and general biodiversity around the island. Frames require monitoring and maintenance.

People

For the community we are offering the local islanders a source of income through our volunteer program. We offer local people good working conditions, a fair wage, and empower them with training opportunities. Our accommodation is local and we also provide meals at the local restaurant which offers income generation opportunities.
The local community becomes family for our participants and they make sure that our guests are safe and having a good time on the islands.
Many will take guests around on local excursions showing them parts of the islands where they can snorkel or even taking them on boat rides to unexplored islands on their boats.
Its a great way of being part of this beautiful island and getting an experience that will be cherished for a lifetime.

A further way we support our community is by employing local staff - they are the cultural ambassadors, know multiple dialects of the sub-continent and can easily facilitate local interaction and thus guide our travellers in general best practices as well as specific tips on how to avoid running afoul of local customs. More importantly they will earn an income through employment.