Sri Lanka is an island nation whose beautiful island setting and unique resorts such as Mosvold Villas make it a prime tourist destination. This tropical wonderland is also home to a diverse range of exotic animal species and a significant number of them are highly endangered. One of the most threatened are the sea-turtles. On the southern end of Galle, nestled among many other Galle villas is the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery.
There are only seven species of sea-turtle in existence and every single one of them has been classified as endangered. Five of these majestic species are present on the shores of Sri Lanka, and the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery is fighting on their behalf to ensure their survival.
The initiative is completely run by volunteers and despite being labelled as a hatchery, undertake a lot more activities. Once the volunteers identify a nesting mother-turtle, they protect her until the eggs have been laid. Once the eggs are laid, they are relocated to the hatchery and are carefully looked after till the hatchlings emerge. Following their hatching, they are introduced to their natural habitat under the cover of night and away from predators.
Additionally, the project also has supervisors consistently patrolling the beaches to find injured turtles, so they may be treated and re-introduced to the seas.
The Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery welcomes visitors from far and wide, and they can even take part in the release of hatchlings into the ocean. If you’re not lucky enough to catch one of these incredible events, you can still make the best of a visit to the hatchery by being educated on the threats these creatures face, as well as having the opportunity to interact with the establishment’s many shell-bound inhabitants.
