The southern Sri Lankan coastal city of Koggala has much to offer visitors when it comes to entertaining activities to see and do, thanks to its location between the coastline and the stunning Koggala Lake. Water sports are a popular choice as several of the reputable Hotels in Koggala are located near the banks of the lake, like the South Lake Resort for example. However there are plenty of other unique attractions to see; if you love animals, then a visit to the sea turtle farm and hatchery is a must.
Located in Habaraduwa, the sea turtle farm and hatchery is a non – profitable organization that helps with the conservation of sea turtles by contacting people or fisherman who have caught these beautiful but vulnerable sea creatures in their net, and then buying them.
This prevents the sale of turtles and turtle eggs for either consumption or poaching and provides an additional income for the fisherman, which in turn encourages them to contact the hatchery when they find turtles in distress. Sea turtles are considered as one of the most endangered species in the world and five varieties can be found near the Galle district.
The farm and hatchery is a great place to learn about this rare creature. There are two incubators where the eggs are placed until they hatch. The baby turtles are then released on the beach, where they make their great journey across the sands to the sea. Visitors are allowed to help so do check on release dates and times ahead if you want to take part.
There are also several sick or injured turtles who are being treated at the farm before being released back into the wild. In another area you can find a few sea turtle who are kept in large tanks as educational exhibits; these turtles are also released after a few years. The sea turtle farm and hatchery is definitely worth a visit if you want to do your part to help these endearing creatures and learn more about what you can do to help their survival.
Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+
