Immobilized and unnaturally rolled over turtles have been rescued from an uninhabited island in Laamu Atoll on Sunday.
The 5 turtles were found in an uninhabited island west of Laamu Kunahandhoo, called Athahedhaa.
The rescue operation was carried by two organisations in Six Sense Laamu, The Ocean Group Maldives, and Manta Trust and Blue Marine Foundation with the help of Maldives Police Services.
In an Instagram post, Six Senses Laamu's Maldives Underwater Initiative said that the turtles were kept under the coconut palm trees on the beach of Athahadha.
Turtles are unable to correct themselves and escape once they have been overturned.
Pictures shared on Instagram shows the overturned turtles in addition to rescue efforts.
All types turtles have been protected under the Environmental Protection act of Maldives since April 4, 2016. It also prohibits the capture, possession and abuse of turtle species, setting these actions as an offence that can be punishable with a huge fine.
According to the Environment Protection Act, if only one protected animal is harmed, they can be fined with MVR 20,000 (USD 1,294.85), and an additional MVR 25,000 (USD 1,618.55) to every additional animal. If the harmed one was a protected live animal, an additional MVR 10,000 (USD 647.42) can be fined as well.
A person that had 12 small turtles captive was fined MVR 149,000 (USD 9,646.54) under the regulation in 2017.
Recent studies have also revealed that there are a large number of turtles living in the lagoons of Laamu Atoll. The government protected six areas of Laamu Atoll on December 23 of 2021, two of which are inhabited by a large number of turtles.
Turtles are on to of the National Red List for animals in the Maldives that is feared to go extinct soon.
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