On a mission to Save the Endangered Sea Turtles: Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery – Protecting nature’s gifts

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kosgoda turtle hatchery
Jerzy Strzelecki, Hawksbill-sea-turtle1(js), CC BY 3.0

To conserve the deteriorating number of sea turtles in our oceans, the Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project (“KSTCP”) was established to save and protect these beautiful marine animals.

About KSTCP

The KSTCP was established to protect the turtles (and their eggs) who visit the golden shores of Sri Lanka to nest. They are dedicated to raising awareness of the dangers these animals face daily.

The hatchery is the most important part of the project where eggs are collected and nurtured until the little ones emerge and are ready to make their way to the big blue. The project also helps to clean and maintain the beach.

Turtles

Commonly visited flipper friends include the Green, Leatherback, Hawksbill, Loggerhead and Olive Ridley turtles. Leatherbacks are known to be the oldest and largest followed by Green Turtles and Loggerheads.

leatherback sea turtle on the beach
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, Leatherback sea turtle Tinglar, USVI (5839996547), CC BY 2.0

Dangers

Predators, human activity and the disastrous effects of global warming are the main dangers that face sea turtles. The destruction of the sea and poaching for shells, eggs and meat by humans are the biggest causes for the rapid decrease in the turtle population.

Tips

Contact the KSTCP before your visit and you just might get a rare chance of witnessing the cutest moment when dozens of baby turtles waddle their way back home! The smallest effort counts – so don’t forget to donate!

Be a responsible traveller and do not try touch turtles or force them to take photos with you as bacterias in human hands, oils, lotions can be damaging to their sensitive skins. Touching the head of a grown turtle can be risky as they might bite.

Do not try to feed turtles and turn off your flasher when taking photographs.

The entry fee is currently LKR 1,000 pax. but you can donate them money if you feel good about what they are doing since that’d help them buy more eggs from vendors. Which in turn help save these amazing creatures more. Otherwise, these eggs would end up in the black market and eventually be used to make turtle soups and other delicacies.

Location

 

 

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