Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences has partnered with the Olive Ridley Project, a turtle conservation organization to monitor and preserve local turtles. The latest recent research by the resort indicates that three turtles nest on Amilla and nine different turtles regularly visit the resort to feed. The most prevalent kind of turtle nests in the Maldives is those belonging to green turtles. Nests of both green turtles and the less common hawksbill turtles have been seen in Amilla. Large turtles can frequently be seen grazing or swimming slowly by snorkelers as they pass the house reef, but the nests are well protected.
Zoe Cox, the marine biologist at Amilla, has been busy sending the Olive Ridley Project information about turtle IDs and nesting data from Amilla ever since the project began operating in the Maldives in 2017. When she sees a turtle on Amilla's house reef or nesting on the island, she makes "turtle IDs" by capturing pictures of each side of its face. Every turtle has a different design on the side of its face. “It’s a great way to monitor populations, migrations, movement and turtle hotspots without physically tagging the turtles and harming them,” explains Zoe. “It’s not even necessary to be a marine biologist to use this simple ‘turtle ID’ method, you just need a camera.” Even more work can be done now that an Olive Ridley Marine Biologist resides on the picturesque private island resort.
Although turtles frequently dine, play and nest in the clear seas surrounding Amilla Resort on the Baa Atoll UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, the Olive Ridley Project did not station a marine biologist there. So, Amilla chose to fill the gap by collaborating with them. Now the five-star resort may contribute to their research and aid in bringing their cause to the attention of its visitors.
Amilla is also working to educate the public about the local turtle poaching problem and the harm that it is doing to the ecosystem and the local economy. There are numerous environmental and economic benefits provided by turtles, however, they differ depending on the species. “Some species of turtle, such as green turtles, graze on seagrass, which is vital for removing carbon from the atmosphere,” Zoe said. Grazed seagrass has higher metabolic carbon capture than ungrazed areas.
“Some species eat sponge and algae growing on the coral reef, which prevents them from out-competing the coral,” she continues. “And some turtles eat jellyfish, which helps keep their population in check. Their nesting also provides nutrients to the beaches in the form of eggshells and undeveloped eggs.”
According to data from the tourist board, snorkeling is the most popular pastime in the Maldives. Visitors to the Maldives come to appreciate the turtles and the healthy reefs that the turtles assist to preserve. In addition, because they offer a secure environment for their future catches to develop and reproduce, healthy reefs also provide advantages to nearby fishermen.
