Are the turtle hatcheries in Kosgoda ethical?
I want to see baby turtles, but I have read that some hatcheries just keep them in concrete tanks for tourists to hold. Are there any genuinely ethical conservation projects?
3 Answers from travellers
It is a mixed bag. Some are heavily commercialized. Look for the Victor Hasselblad Sea Turtle Conservation Center in Kosgoda. They focus on protecting the eggs from poachers and releasing the hatchlings immediately at night, rather than keeping them in tanks for days to show tourists.
Avoid any place that lets you pick up and hold the baby turtles. Human oils damage their shells and it stresses them out. If they offer to let you hold one for a photo, walk away.
Alternatively, just snorkel at Dalawella beach or Polhena beach! You can see massive adult wild turtles swimming right in the shallow water, completely free and natural.
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