If you have always wanted to play an active role in conservation programs, then now is your chance to be a volunteer and contribute meaningfully towards the wellbeing of the Sea Turtles thriving in the south-western coasts of Sri Lanka. In the recent past, excessive commercial fishing and poaching of turtle eggs by humans and predators (dogs, monitor lizards, etc.) have resulted in their numbers dwindling significantly and thus, these turtles are considered to be an endangered species.
The main focus of this project is to protect the turtle eggs as well as the baby turtles, and subsequently increase their population. This includes preserving the eggs from predators and poachers, providing a safe haven for hatchings to occur, caring for the baby, sick and injured turtles, feeding them daily and releasing the healthy ones into the ocean when ready.
Being a volunteer, you'll support the hatcheries through conservation efforts which are valuable for their sustainability, and also goes a long way in helping them financially as we pay these hatcheries a placement fee for each volunteer we send to them, which allows them to generate additional income. You'll also get to teach the local communities about the prospects of nature conservation and how to keep the environment healthy.
Background to this program
Sea turtles are often referred to as keystone species, which means they are an irreplaceable part of the marine environment and have a significant influence on other marine species around them. If a keystone species is removed from a habitat, the natural order is disrupted, which negatively impacts other wildlife and fauna in various ways.
Sea Turtles have played vital roles in maintaining the health of the world’s oceans for more than 100 million years, having outlived even dinosaurs. These roles range from maintaining productive coral reef ecosystems to transporting essential nutrients from the oceans to beaches/coastal dunes to maintaining the health of seagrass beds and more.
Major changes have occurred in the oceans because sea turtles have been virtually eliminated from many areas of the globe. Excessive commercial fishing, marine pollution, loss of nesting habitat, poaching of turtle eggs and climate change are among the chief human-caused threats pushing sea turtles towards extinction. As sea turtle populations decline, so does their ability to fulfil vital functions in ocean ecosystems.
The beaches of Sri Lanka have been a sanctuary for sea turtle nesting activities for several centuries. To assist with their conservation efforts, the Sri Lankan government has authorised a collection of turtle hatcheries along the country’s western and southern coastline, whose main purpose is to provide for the overall well being of the sea turtles and increase their numbers.
However, it is important to note that sea turtle conservation in Sri Lanka is still in its nascent stages as compared to some more developed parts of the world. Very little governmental support is given to these hatcheries, many of which struggle to make ends meet. More so, very little is done in terms of educating the coastal communities that matter most (e.g., local fishermen and their families, coastal inhabitants, etc.), on the value of conserving them and keeping the marine environment healthy.
Hence, there is an urgent need for responsible private citizens to support conservation activities here that can help rebuild local sea turtle populations to healthy levels, which is a vital step in ensuring healthy and resilient oceans for the future.
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