Turtle Hatchery Hikkaduwa, Southern Province, Sri Lanka

4Jerry Murray 5:00 PM Feb 9, 2020

Turtle hatchery
Visited here last week while on holidays in Sri Lanka cost a 1000rupees entrance fee which is about 5€ a person . A guide takes you around and explains all about the hatchery and the turtles . You first see a few aquariums with baby reef sharks star fish and lobsters and tiger fish then you are taken through the next door and first of all you are shown the day old turtles when you are allowed to photos as there eyes don’t open for a few days .you are then taken around a few other tanks and they shows injured turtles the vets operate and as many as possible are released back unfortunately some cannot be released as they would not survive they explain the damage plastic can do to these animals there is also a few albino turtles who again would not survive in the wild . They explain about the different species of turtles and how long each variety of egg takes to hatch etc . Local fishermen etc are paid to collect the eggs and bring them to the hatchery as they have better chance to survive as they are in danger of been eaten by other species of animals and birds . They even let you hold one to get pic with . There is a donation box there so up to yourself to donate but great cause so most people will

5GregFirth 5:00 PM Jan 15, 2020

Great Conservation Project
It was great to see this place, learn about the difficulties that turtles are facing in the wild. The guys running it are passionate and are happy to answer any questions about the rehabilitation and testing of the turtles. As well as eggs waiting to hatch, they had 7 day old babies and larger injured turtles. Which are being rehabilitated ready for rerelease. For only 500RS it’s so worth supporting this project. Take a Tuk Tuk down there then do the short walk down to the tsunami photo museum past the tsunami monument. You can do both in just over an hour and really feel like you’re supporting the locals and learning some recent history.