Turtle Patrol

Sri Lanka see’s 5 of 7 sea turtle species coming ashore to nest. Sea turtles are genetically adapted to return to the same shorelines of birth to lay eggs. All sea turtles being considered threatened at sea, faces larger perils when returning to nest. Major challenges include turtles being poached for meat and shell, eggs stolen for consumption and tourist sales and plastic/ light pollution.

Shorelines surrounding Colombo are some of the few urban locations where turtles have considered as nesting grounds. In 2022, a 1km shoreline stretch in Wellawatta saw over 90 turtle nesting’s.

Volunteers of The Pearl Protectors for the second turtle season intends to patrol the beaches of Dehiwala, Mount Lavinia and Wellawatta to provide security and safety for turtles coming ashore to lay eggs.

During the 60-day patrolling, volunteer teams will patrol beaches during the night and early morning hours in order to identify nesting sites, provide protection from poachers and support Sri Lanka Coast Guard officials in re-nesting eggs in secure locations.

Volunteers will be trained and equipped with all necessary resources to conduct the turtle patrolling.