Sea turtles in Sri Lanka

Sea Turtles in Sri Lanka
Experiencing the wonders of sea turtles whilst on holiday is something uniquely special. Five of the world’s eight species of turtles nest on Sri Lankan beaches and whilst in Sri Lanka on holiday, do try to incorporate a visit to these beaches and to the hatcheries that can be found along the coast. Expressions Holidays can help you arrange your holiday to Sri Lanka so that you experience the wonders of sea turtles in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is famous for five species of turtles who regularly visit the sandy beaches to nest along the island’s western and southern shores. These are the green turtle, leatherback, hawksbill, loggerhead and the Olive Ridley, which is the most commonly seen.
There are only eight species of this endangered ancient reptile found living today and the Wildlife Department of Sri Lanka has launched a public awareness programme to save the marine turtle from extinction. Although the majority of people are keen to protect them and provide them sanctuaries, people do kill the turtles for their flesh and shell. This is illegal practice will lead to a jail sentence and fines.
Marine turtles can live to be over eighty years old. They have lungs and must come to the surface to breathe every thirty minutes but are able to migrate over long distances - a leatherback turtle tagged in French Guiana in South America was recovered in Ghana some 3,800 miles away. Adult females are believed to return to the beach on which they hatched to lay their eggs preferring quiet, dark, undisturbed places where they will be less vulnerable to predators. Between 80 and 120 white eggs are laid in each nest, and possibly up to five times in a season. The temperature of the nest during incubation determines the sex. When they hatch, the young turtles make their way straight to sea and swim constantly for up to 2 days. This is known as the ‘juvenile frenzy’ and allows the hatchings to escape the predator rich inshore waters. However, every 1,000 eggs laid are believed to yield only one mature adult sea turtle.
Hatcheries
In Sri Lanka a number of sea turtle hatcheries can be found along the coast.
The Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery is a conservation project operated by the Wildlife Protection Society of Sri Lanka set up in 1981 to protect Sri Lanka’s sea turtles from extinction. It aims to help enhance the stability of sea turtles and gives people the chance to observe these fascinating creatures close up. The turtles lay their eggs along the sandy beaches here, mainly between October and April though some eggs can be found throughout the year. Eggs collected by villagers and fishermen are purchased by the hatchery and brought to the sandy pens to hatch. The baby turtles are then reared in seawater tanks until they are old enough to be released into the sea (at night). The Kosgoda Hatchery has released more than 1,750,000 young turtles of all five species to the sea.
At Rekawa there is now a conservation project to preserve and protect the nesting site. The best time for beach sightings is between January and April, especially at full moon.
On the beaches
Those who wish to see turtles visiting the south western and south eastern coastal villages should do so at night, from a distance with the aid of binoculars. Nesting turtles should not be disturbed and light disturbances should be minimised at night. October is usually good for turtles coming onto the beach, especially at night.
Bentota: Hawksbill
Induruwa: Green turtle, Olive Ridley turtle and leatherback turtle
Kosgoda: Loggerhead turtle, hawksbill turtle and less so the other three
Thalpe: Olive Ridley
Rekawa: Green turtle mostly, but all five
Bundala: Green turtle, Olive Ridley, leatherback, loggerhead and hawksbill turtle
Yala: Green turtle, leatherback and Olive Ridley

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