Turtle Watching in Sri Lanka
Marine turtles have been roaming the world’s oceans for approximately 190 million years. Currently, seven species of these ancient reptiles remain. Sea turtles are also protected under international law, therefore international trade in sea turtle products is illegal in countries such as Sri Lanka, which are signatories of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Turtle eggs are white and about the same size and shape as a table tennis ball. A single female may nest up to five times in a season. Five of these eight species regularly visit the white sandy beaches of Sri Lanka to nest.
The small fishing village of Rekawa is a vital eco-tourism venue located about 10 km east of the south coast town of Tangalle, Sri Lanka. The Olive Ridley Turtle, Leatherback Turtle, Green Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle and the Loggerhead Turtle are the five types of turtles that visit Sri Lanka.
There are dozens of locations around Sri Lanka, where you can visit and experience these sea turtles in their natural habitat, and you may even witness those laying eggs before they return to the ocean, and it is therefore a desirable location if you’re an animal and wildlife lover.
The Olive Ridley Turtle is the most common of the turtle species visiting Sri Lankan shores. They sometimes appear in large numbers and the peak of their nesting period in Sri Lanka is between September and November. It is also the smallest of all the marine turtles.
The Leatherback turtle is the largest of the sea turtles. The biggest specimen ever seen and recorded by man was 3 m long and weighed 916kg. Leatherback turtles feed almost exclusively on jellyfish and are often victims to marine pollution.
Green turtles nest throughout the year on Sri Lankan shores, with their peak season being January till March. Keep in mind that you can approach turtles only during their nesting period. Only at that time they are in a trance-like state and do not get nervous when seeing people. The diet of the Green turtle changes during its lifetime. Juveniles are mostly carnivorous, feeding on a variety of worms, crustaceans, and small fish, whereas the adults are herbivorous, feeding only on marine vegetation (sea grass and algae). For each sea turtle population the mating season typically occurs when the photoperiod (day length) and local temperature begin to increase. Warmer temperatures produce females and cooler temperatures produce males, so adults need to lay their eggs when the temperature is just right to produce both male and female hatching.
Turtles nest here all year round, but the main season is April to July. The rarest turtles to sight are the giant leatherbacks. The Turtle Watch in Rekawa, the Kosgoda Sea Conservation, Hikkaduwa, Habaraduwa, Galle and Ahungalla are some the best places to visit the turtles to gain a vast knowledge on their habitat and how one could help preserve and protect the remaining turtles. Research, conservation, and rescue centres are placed in aid of the turtles, and you can find most of these places in Kosgoda. The centre functions mainly as a hatchery and makes huge efforts to increase the rate of hatching and survival of baby turtles in their very initial stages. However, the Care Centre also works on sick or injured adults; treating them and releasing them back into the ocean. They also run volunteer programs and awareness programs for local and international visitors. The Kosgoda Turtle Care Centre is a great place to learn and love nature while also having fun however, guests are not allowed to touch the turtles when nesting or disturb this process in any manner. It is recommended as a family friendly experience and should therefore be on your list of things to do when visiting Sri Lanka. Inquire us to organize your Turtle watching in Sri Lanka.