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Instead of our annual summer holiday this year,  we have decided to participate in a Turtle Project where we will be volunteering as a family in Sri Lanka. We are very excited to be joining the Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project. 

Our activities will include;

Turtle Care
The turtles at the sanctuary require a constant level of care if they’re to be released into the ocean and, in some instances, injured or disabled turtles will rely on the project for the rest their lives. The project has implemented a feeding schedule which sees the turtles fed every other day, we will help to provide the animals with portions of their favourite fish: tuna! Additionally, we will help to keep the turtles’ shells clean, using a soft brush or sand to gently scrub away any algae or debris.

Burying Turtle Eggs
Turtle eggs have long been considered a delicacy in Sri Lanka; notably, turtle egg soup is a favourite dish of many throughout the country. The use of turtle eggs in cuisine has had a negative impact on the nation’s turtle populations, which is why the project devised a plan to obtain as many of these eggs as possible. Instead of allowing fishermen to sell any found eggs to restaurants, the team began to offer a higher price and therefore the fishmen would bring the eggs to the sanctuary instead. We will help to carefully rebury the eggs in the sand so that they have the best chance of hatching.

Tank Cleaning
A clean, safe environment is essential if the project hopes to keep the turtles as healthy as possible, and we will support their efforts by helping to maintain the turtles’ tanks.This will be done by running a water pump and hose from the sea into the tanks, where saltwater will be used to rinse off any debris.we will then be required to remove any grime that you see, using brushes, squeegees and even coconuts to clean the inside of the tanks. After rinsing the tanks once more, a stopper will be placed into the tank and it will be refilled with water.

Beach Clean-Ups
The project aims to keep the beach as clean as possible, both to provide safe passage for the turtles as they make their way to the sea, and to set an example for the local people. We will help the project team to remove all litter, wood, coconuts and organic matter from the beach. We will also collect plastic, glass, weeds and vines, which will be gathered up and disposed of correctly or recycled.

Turtle Release
Releasing a turtle into the ocean marks the end of the volunteer-controlled part of its life and the beginning of its independence. With the odds stacked against them, it is important that the turtles’ journey towards the ocean is made as easy as possible, so we will help to ensure that the group’s path remains clear of predators as we watch them embark on their journey to independence.

We were shocked to learn that out of roughly 1000 hatchlings, it is estimated that only one will survive until adulthood. The risks faced by today’s turtle populations are greater than ever before, with issues such as ocean or beach pollution, light pollution and the poaching crisis each contributing to these struggles. When baby turtles hatch, they are born into a sandy nest from which they may take 3-7 days to climb out. These turtles are weak, which is why they must struggle to leave their nests, but due to predatory animals in the region or even poachers (who wish to steal the turtles or the eggs to sell later on), the survival rate at this early stage stands at only around 25%.

This is why we decided to volunteer our time to such a worthy cause, which aims to ensure as many turtles as possible will make it to maturity.

In addition to volunteering at the conservation project,  we would like to dedicate our time this year to raising awareness and funds for turtle conservation projects around the world.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story any donations made will go to Turtle Foundation UK . Every donation, large or small supports in the fight against poachers and helps fund further species protection measures.

Thank you!

The Rollison’s!