If you are an avid wanderer in love with the ocean and looking for ‘things to do in Unawatuna‘, the famous beach destination down south of Sri Lanka, consider a visit to the Habaraduwa Turtle Hatchery. This not-for-profit organization has a single aim and that is to ensure the survival of sea turtles. Begun in 1986, the turtle hatchery has thus far been responsible for saving over 500,000 sea turtle babies and releasing them to the vast ocean.
The volunteers at the centre take turns to wander the beach on nights that female sea turtles make their way to the land area to lay eggs; once the mother swims back to sea, the rescuers take the eggs back to the hatchery where the eggs will incubate within the safety of its bounds, away from predators. When the hatchlings see the light of this world and are strong enough to make the trek towards their real home, rescuers bring them back to the beach and watch them begin the struggle to reach the rough seas; here they will face many more battles to become capable adults.
Many turtle enthusiasts who vacation in beach resort towns down south of Sri Lanka, like CoCo Bay Unawatuna, make it a point to visit the Habaraduwa Turtle Hatchery to see the baby turtles, eggs and injured adult turtles under care of the kind rescuers of the hatchery.
There are five types of turtles that call the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka their home. The angry looking Loggerhead Turtle and the Olive Ridley Turtle are just two of those. There are three more varieties, namely, Leatherback Turtle, Green Turtle and the famous Hawksbill Turtle. If you love sea turtles, don’t miss this chance to see some good hearted people at work trying to save the sea creatures that you love. If you’re lucky, you may even get a chance to accompany the rescuers to the ocean and watch the ‘little’uns’ make their way into the ocean and perhaps see for yourself the beginning of their precarious journey of life.
Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+
