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Extremely rare sight - turtle spotted on Male' beach

Lamya Abdulla
27 February 2022, MVT 12:04
Turtle spotted in Male on Sunday -- Photo: MP Mohamed Abdulla ShafeegMP Mohamed Abdulla Shafeeg's Twitter account
Lamya Abdulla
27 February 2022, MVT 12:04

A turtle has been spotted on the small sandy beach - an extremely rare sight - near the Sinamale' Bridge in Male' City on Sunday.

Parliament member for Velidhoo constituency Mohamed Abdulla Shafeeq (Mode) posted a video of the turtle he spotted while out for exercise early morning.

He had said he spotted the turtle around 5:55 a.m. and that the turtle showed no visible injuries. The turtle was approximately 2 and a half feet long.

"It [the turtle] was not there by the time I had returned from my run on the bridge," he said.

MP Mohamed Abdulla Shafeeg tweeted the turtle he spotted, captioned in Dhivehi, "A blessed morning. A big turtle near the Male' Bridge,"

The sandy area the turtle had visited is the only naturally occurring beach area in Male', as such turtles like this are not often spotted in the capital of Maldives. The island city has an artificial harbour around it, extended over the years through land reclamation projects, and in place to protect the island from waves and the sea.

Even though it appeared as if the turtle had dug the sand to lay eggs, it had not.

Turtles are protected in Maldives, its capture prohibited under law. However, people from local local islands often catch these endangered animals, eating them and their eggs as well.

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