In our efforts to take a close peek at a sea turtle conservation centre, we managed a fleeting glimpse of the memorial to the 2004 tsunami victims. It is the nation's tribute to 50,000 people who perished in this country and it has been etched in copper and brass plates. However, we travelled along the blue coastal waters for more than 10 km, to spend a few hours at the Kosagoda turtle hatchery.
As we traveled, one can find many hatcheries on the long southern coast and stretching to the Western Province of Sri Lanka. Here sea turtles are rescued, housed, fed, treated, taken care of during their breeding activities and finally released into their natural habitat.
The Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project is run by Dudley Perera and his family. After purchasing tickets to enter the place, volunteers who are all involved to give a new and safe life to turtles, are ready to explain about their project.
Also the adjoining beach is kept clean and saplings are planted that can provide shelter to the turtles. In fact, the project area is kept very neat and clean. Tourists and other visitors are shown around the site where the turtle tanks are kept and maintained while the turtles themselves are looked after and fed properly by the Centre’s staff and workers.
This project was set up in 1988 and its owner has been involved with turtle conservation in this area since then and funded the project with his own money. After studying conservation of sea animals and working in South Korea for a few years, he was able to invest money for the future of turtles in the area. This has borne fruit as he has been passing his knowledge and bringing awareness onto locals and visitors alike. Also he has helped many villagers in community projects.
Basically, they are trying to to stop the stealing of eggs and buying it back from fishermen who are involved in trading these reptiles.
Each fisherman is paid an amount of Rs 18-25 per egg. If some eat turtles others use their colorful and beautiful shells for trading. Some of the rarest of the rare species are traded and it is a continuing effort to protect them. We had a firsthand experience of how the turtles are protected. We went around the hatchery comprising of tanks that comprised turtles in different stages of its life cycle. In fact, the entire process of procuring eggs from fishermen and nurturing it in an artificial environment and finally releasing into back into the sea was explained by Sundar, a project volunteer.
The Centre houses five different varieties of turtles and one can see from the egg stage till adulthood. However, they are released depending on their health condition. As in any population, we see problems here too there are some disabled with three legs while some are polio affected. The centre has vets who look after their problems and treat them. It is only during the dusk they are released back into the sea. Being very delicate, many of them die but all necessary protection measures are taken and that has helped in saving them, adds the wiry manager.
At the Kosagoda Centre, one can see different species in different tanks at such close quarters and we get to even handle them. After a tour and explanatory session, the Manager quietly sums up and says humans are the most dangerous predators.
He explains the south west coast is rich in this species but poachers rob their eggs, shells and meat for any price in the black market. Some view it as an aphrodisiac or a symbol of fertility and therefore, exported to other Asian countries. However, Kosagoda and many other conservation groups are doing their best to save the species from extinction.
How To Reach There:
The Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project is located on Galle Road, Mahapalena, Kosgoda village which connects Colombo to Galle.
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| Memorial wall for Tsunami victims |
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| Tsunami victims memorial |
As we traveled, one can find many hatcheries on the long southern coast and stretching to the Western Province of Sri Lanka. Here sea turtles are rescued, housed, fed, treated, taken care of during their breeding activities and finally released into their natural habitat.
The Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project is run by Dudley Perera and his family. After purchasing tickets to enter the place, volunteers who are all involved to give a new and safe life to turtles, are ready to explain about their project.
 |
| Sundar the project volunteer in the conservation Project |
Also the adjoining beach is kept clean and saplings are planted that can provide shelter to the turtles. In fact, the project area is kept very neat and clean. Tourists and other visitors are shown around the site where the turtle tanks are kept and maintained while the turtles themselves are looked after and fed properly by the Centre’s staff and workers.
 |
| Handling the young ones with care |
This project was set up in 1988 and its owner has been involved with turtle conservation in this area since then and funded the project with his own money. After studying conservation of sea animals and working in South Korea for a few years, he was able to invest money for the future of turtles in the area. This has borne fruit as he has been passing his knowledge and bringing awareness onto locals and visitors alike. Also he has helped many villagers in community projects.
Basically, they are trying to to stop the stealing of eggs and buying it back from fishermen who are involved in trading these reptiles.
 |
| Eggs and the young ones |
Each fisherman is paid an amount of Rs 18-25 per egg. If some eat turtles others use their colorful and beautiful shells for trading. Some of the rarest of the rare species are traded and it is a continuing effort to protect them. We had a firsthand experience of how the turtles are protected. We went around the hatchery comprising of tanks that comprised turtles in different stages of its life cycle. In fact, the entire process of procuring eggs from fishermen and nurturing it in an artificial environment and finally releasing into back into the sea was explained by Sundar, a project volunteer.
 |
| The nesting site |
The Centre houses five different varieties of turtles and one can see from the egg stage till adulthood. However, they are released depending on their health condition. As in any population, we see problems here too there are some disabled with three legs while some are polio affected. The centre has vets who look after their problems and treat them. It is only during the dusk they are released back into the sea. Being very delicate, many of them die but all necessary protection measures are taken and that has helped in saving them, adds the wiry manager.
 |
| Different tanks for different species |
At the Kosagoda Centre, one can see different species in different tanks at such close quarters and we get to even handle them. After a tour and explanatory session, the Manager quietly sums up and says humans are the most dangerous predators.
He explains the south west coast is rich in this species but poachers rob their eggs, shells and meat for any price in the black market. Some view it as an aphrodisiac or a symbol of fertility and therefore, exported to other Asian countries. However, Kosagoda and many other conservation groups are doing their best to save the species from extinction.
How To Reach There:
The Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project is located on Galle Road, Mahapalena, Kosgoda village which connects Colombo to Galle.
Location map:
Visit Part I
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