Sea turtle farm and hatchery

T he sea turtle farm and hatchery in Habaraduwa helps protect the rare turtles from extinction and danger. It is five metres from the Galle-Matara main road. The hatchery is a non-profit organisation which is maintained for the survival of sea turtles.

The centre was started in 1986 and up to now it have released more than 500,000 sea turtles to the ocean. There are five varieties in Sri Lanka. They are Olive Ridley Turtle, Loggerhead Turtle, Green Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle and Leather head Turtle. The major nesting habitats are in the Galle and Hambantota districts.

Turtles are a rare species in the world. Their heritage could be traced to more than a 100 million years.

They are supposed to have lived during the Dinosaur age. Unfortunately, at present about eight varieties of turtles are said to be existing.

There is a threat of these species being eradicated from our planet due to man-made destructions.

The turtles get together in certain areas of the ocean annually to mate. After mating the female turtles come to the sea shore to lay their eggs. They lay eggs after about 30 years. They lay their eggs on the sea shore at night.

The turtles prefer to lay their eggs on the same beach they were born. They lay about 120 eggs at a time. Their eggs are white and similar to ping-pong balls. The eggs are kept damp by the female turtle by emitting a juice to cover the eggs. After laying the eggs these turtles go back to the ocean.

Unlike other animals, turtles have no connection with the eggs or their new borns.

The eggs are hatched with the help of the warm sand which is heated by the rays of the sun. After about 60 days the eggs start cracking and the young turtles who are about five centimetres long find their way to the ocean and begin their lives.

- Compiled by Husna Inayathullah