Great efforts have been made over the past few decades to protect sea turtles in Sri Lanka. Once the favourite prey of poachers, sea turtles would end up on Asian markets as meat, soup, aphrodisiacs or tortoise shell ornaments. Set up in the 80s, the Kosgoda hatchery has done wonders to save them from the brink of extinction, at least on the island where five of the seven species may be found.
The 2004 tsunami caused havoc in Kosgoda, killing some 200 turtles, destroying hatchery and beach but the local family running the project survived and set back to work. The site reopened a few months later and the sea turtle conservation project continues its task, offering opportunities for volunteer work with animals.
Information on Sea Turtles
Among the five species of sea turtles found in Sri Lanka, green turtles are the most common. They measure up to a metre in length, can weigh up 250 kg and lay 120 to 140 eggs at any one time, up to three times per season, though not every year. They are named after the green coloured fat covering their shell.
Other turtles nesting in Sri Lanka include the much smaller and critically endangered hawksbill, also seen in the Maldives, the large red and brown loggerhead and the endangered olive ridley which may be spotted on Kosgoda beach, measuring just 65 cm and weighing around 35 kg. Rarely seen in Sri Lanka and on the critical list is the leatherback turtle, the largest of the five, up to three metre long and weighing up to 750 kg. It has an unusual soft shell and can dive to 1500 metres in search of jelly fish.
Sea Turtle Conservation Project on Kosgoda Turtle Beach
Kosgoda turtle beach is located on the south west coast of Sri Lanka between Colombo and Galle. There, the sea turtle conservation project protects nesting sites, monitors sea turtle activity and raises awareness of conservation issues among the local population. Villagers who bring eggs to the hatchery are paid more than their market value and fishermen encouraged to report sightings of mature females close to the shore.
Now, when a turtle returns to the ocean after laying her eggs on Kosgoda beach, eggs are removed from the nest and buried in a protected hatchery, safe from predators. After around 50 days incubation, the young turtles are born,some may be kept in a water tank for a couple of days to gather strength, then they will be released into the Indian ocean, at night for safety. Kosgoda’s turtle beach is one of the most important nesting sites on Sri Lanka, releasing up to 10 000 hatchlings a year, seemingly a huge number but only 10 to 20% are likely to survive into adulthood.
Holidays in Sri Lanka, Volunteer Work with Animals, Saving Sea Turtles
Relying on grants and fund raising as well as volunteer help, the Kosgoda conservation project is run by the Perera family. For volunteers, saving sea turtles means hands-on experience from releasing hatchlings into the ocean to feeding and cleaning turtles. The project also looks after a few mature turtles, injured or otherwise at risk, for instance albino. Other tasks include night patrols on the beach, cleaning and maintaining the hatchery and the beach, where pandanus trees are planted to retain the sand, collating data and showing fee-paying visitors around.
Anyone interested in volunteer work with animals can either contact the Kosgoda hatchery directly or a volunteer organizations such as i-to-i. Either way, the visit should be organized in advance and a minimum commitment of two weeks is usually expected. Volunteers may be offered homestays and a chance to contribute to other community projects.
For all animal lovers, it’s a unique and rewarding opportunity to make a difference during their holidays in Sri Lanka.
Source: Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project
Solange Hando - I am a travel writer, editor and photographer, contributing to a range of publications in the UK and worldwide.
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