SEA TURTLE HATCHERIES – GUARDIANS OF THE OCEAN
Sri Lanka’s turtle hatcheries—found in Kosgoda, Bentota, and Rekawa—protect four native sea turtle species: leatherback, green, olive ridley, and hawksbill. Volunteers patrol nesting beaches nightly, relocating vulnerable eggs to guarded enclosures until hatching.
Visitors enter turtle sanctuaries to learn about turtle biology and conservation efforts via interactive signage and guided talks. Witnessing an adult turtle return to lay eggs or feeding in onsite pens offers emotional insight into these ancient mariners’ lives.
During hatchling release events, guests walk along moonlit beach paths collecting baby turtles—then softly guiding the 5 cm hatchlings toward the sea at ebb tide. Each release is a poignant moment, and many hatcheries provide certificates acknowledging each guest’s contribution to marine conservation.
Facilities: incubator paddocks, clinic bays for injured turtles, aquaria for recovery, and beachside education huts. Some hatcheries fund their operations through sustainable tourism—selling painted turtle eggshell souvenirs, holding tide-swamp bank tours, or hosting beach cleanups by community volunteers.
Your visit doesn’t just delight—it actively supports coastal stewardship and awareness-building. These hatcheries are honouring turtles going back 100 million years—and your hands-on involvement helps their survival into the next century.