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Paying to release baby sea turtles at Kosgoda hatcheries is it a scam

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Elara M.•2545 rep•2

We were driving through Kosgoda and a hatchery asked for 5000 LKR to let us release a baby turtle into the ocean during the day. Is this a legitimate conservation practice or a tourist trap scam.

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wildlifebudget-travelsafetyfamily-travel

3 Answers from travellers

✓Accepted Answer

This is highly unethical and largely a tourist trap. True conservation programs do not let tourists handle baby turtles, as human bacteria can harm them. Furthermore, releasing baby turtles during the bright daylight is basically feeding them directly to sea birds and predators. Legitimate hatcheries only release turtles at night when they have the highest survival rate, and they never charge tourists to use the animals as props.

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Dr. Aruni S.•1230 rep•1

If you want to see true turtle conservation, go to the Rekawa Turtle Watch near Tangalle. You observe wild mothers laying eggs at night on the beach, and the money actually goes to paying locals to protect the nests rather than poach them.

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Noah K.•2005 rep•2

Thank you. I had a feeling it was wrong when I saw them keeping the babies in small, dirty concrete tanks just so tourists could take Instagram photos.

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Elara M.•2545 rep•2

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