Koggala Turtle Hatchery, Galle Overview

Turtle hatchery of Koggala opened in the year 1996 on the fringes of Koggala town. It is a turtle farm which is a crucial breeding spot for the endangered sea turtles and also an care centre for crippled, blinded and wounded turtles.

This place is open for public visit and the money from the entrance fee is used in the breeding, feeding and treatment of the turtles. There is a giant turtle-shaped entrance, and upon entering, on the left, there is a mini pond under a shed. Here one can find several giant turtles swimming lazily in the water while the instructor lifts one of them and allows visitors to touch them. The turtles found here can weigh up to 15 kgs.

Visiting the Koggala Turtle Hatchery is more of an overwhelming experience rather than just a fun outing. The centre is protecting dying sea turtles with their limited resources and are putting their best foot forward to help secure the future of these beautiful animals.

Rescue and Rehabilitation at Koggala Turtle Sanctuary

Further inside, there are sand plots marked with names of different turtle breeds. The turtle eggs are buried under them, and once they hatch, the caretakers shift them into little open tanks. One can see a lot of palm-sized baby turtles of different breeds enjoying a swim in the open containers.

The most common of the turtle breeds found here are the Loggerheads and the Leathery Turtle while the Green Turtle is quite uncommon. Hawksbill, Olive ridley and Leatherback turtles are also seen in Koggala Turtle Hatchery.

Since their nesting areas are mostly threatened by humans and in the sea, they are prone to injury from fishing nets and underwater propellers of boats. The rescued turtles are provided with medication and treatment. Once they recover, the caretakers release them back into the sea, but if they are severely injured, the shelter permanently takes care of the turtles.

The setup is minimal with small tanks, and the whole area can be explored in 45 minutes. Some guides inform people about the breed, lifespan, food and diet, and threats faced by the turtles. They secure around 30000 eggs every year from poachers, allow them to hatch and after a few weeks release them safely on the beach.

Tips

Do not lift the turtles from water without the guidance of the instructors and be gentle while handling them.

Do not put hands in giant turtles’ tank to touch the turtles as some of them may bite on being vexed.

One can also enjoy the experience of releasing days old baby turtles in the seawater, which is a very heartwarming experience.

Since it is a selfless initiative to protect the precious creatures, one can also make donations for the development of the place so that more turtles can be adopted and bred.