The southern coastal town of Hikkaduwa is home to some of the best Beach Hotels in Sri Lanka. Home to Hikkaduwa National Park, a coral reef that spans a distance of 4 kilometers and abundant with sea life, eco tourism is actively promoted by beachside resorts such as Chaaya Tranz Hikkaduwa.
Sri Lanka’s south-west coast is ‘turtle-heaven’ with five of the seven species of Sea Turtles frequenting its shores. A popular nesting ground for Sea Turtles, the nesting season from October to April sees each female turtle lay as many as 180 small, white eggs along the beach near Hikkaduwa. With the eggs requiring warmth to hatch, female turtles guard their eggs for a few days before abandoning them safely buried in the warm sand. Unfortunately, humans pose a threat to these sea creatures whose meat and eggs are sold as popular delicacies.
With an alarming 86% of the Sea Turtle population facing extinction, many Turtle Conservation Centres have emerged along Sri Lanka’s south-west coast in recent years with the oldest among them being Sea Turtle Farm and Hatchery in Kosgoda. Originally an independent venture, this non-profit organization managed by the Wildlife Protection Society of Sri Lanka has since its inception in 1986 released nearly 3.5 million Sea Turtles to the ocean. Dedicated to protecting these endangered species, the facility collects unprotected turtle eggs buried along the beach and sources some from local villagers for a fee. The collected eggs are subsequently reburied in the safety of the farm’s beachfront until they hatch. Turtle eggs take 48-60 days to hatch depending on the weather-induced warmth and once hatched the baby turtles are placed in tanks for 10 days where they are cleaned and fed before being released into the sea. The facility also acts as a rehabilitation centre caring for injured turtles. The Turtle Hatchery conducts tours of its facility educating visitors on turtle conservation and allowing visitors to see and touch rare turtles including the endangered Green Turtle and even participate in the emotive release of baby Sea Turtles to the sea.
Intrigued by history, art and food, Shazzana Hamid is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary. Disguised as Lavinia Woolf she writes of the exhilarating and enchanting.
