Turtle & Marine Conservation - Sri Lanka

Product Details

Sri Lanka boasts hundreds of miles of the best turtle nesting beaches in the World. It attracts five endangered species which you are needed to help conserve. The Tsunami destroyed many of the habitats which can be re-established with your support.

The main turtle nesting beaches are at Rekewa, Tangalle, Kosgoda, Panadura and Kandakkuliya all in the south of the country. These are stunning locations, boasting beautiful beaches, backed with palm trees.

The turtles are endangered for a variety of reasons. Their eggs are considered to be a delicacy, shells of mature turtles are used for jewellery, fishermen accidentally catch them in their nets, coral reefs that provide feeding sites are mined (for cement) and the beach nesting sites are under threat from developers.

Responsibilities and activities

The exact location of your project would depend upon the time of year that you are in Sri Lanka. Volunteers normally work in two or three locations over a three-month period. Different species come ashore at different times and at different locations to nest. The nests need to be marked, recorded and protected in-situ. When the conditions are right, hundreds of these magnificent animals come ashore in one night. You would also be asked to help with coastal conservation such as restoring mangroves and pandera (beach palms) which were destroyed in the tsunami disaster. The success of the project depends on whole communities being involved. Local fishermen are taught about its importance, ex-poachers are now trained as guides and rangers.

Villagers are also shown that by sustaining a healthy population of turtles, money can be earned through eco-tourism. Education is recognised as an important way forward and you would be asked to co-ordinate an environmental awareness project in five local primary schools as well as making presentations (in English) to hotels about the work. Tourists are encouraged to visit certain sites but need to know about the illegal trade in turtle parts. You would be asked to work with the tourists and teach local people about the importance / sustainability of eco-tourism.

Accommodation / time off / working hours

You would live with other volunteers in a comfortable house close to the ocean, a short walk to the beach. Some of the locations are close to other Outreach projects but others are more remote. You would be given an allowance for food. The staple diet is fish, prawns, rice and an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables. Pineapples, mangoes, guavas, papaya, avocadoes, limes and tomatoes area all grown. The project operates seven days a week but you would normally have weekends free to explore the wonderful coastline and other parts of Sri Lanka.