• Protecting the turtle nesting grounds hidden in plain sight

Colombo as a city is quite unique, especially from an environmental perspective. For instance, Colombo is one of only 43 cities worldwide to be accredited as a Ramsar Wetland City in 2018; it is also the first and only capital city to boast this title.

As a city, Colombo sees an incredible amount of biodiversity within it. Its location by the beach also means we see a lot of marine life quite close to home. Oftentimes, we don’t even know it. For example, January to March is sea turtle nesting season and every year the beaches of Colombo and its neighbouring towns play home to sea turtles looking to nest.

This week, The Sunday Morning Brunch dove into what turtle nesting looks like and how we, as city inhabitants, can help sea turtles – an endangered species. 

The sea turtle and Colombo 

As far as amphibians go, sea turtles are arguably on the cuter end of the spectrum. Sri Lanka is something of a haven for sea turtles, with Sri Lankan waters being home to five of the seven species of marine turtles: the green turtle, olive ridley, hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea).

Colombo’s beaches are most often frequented by the olive ridley turtle as a nesting ground, with beaches in other parts of the island being frequented by other species. The turtle nesting process is an interesting one – they mate in shallow waters, come ashore, lay their eggs on the beach, and in a few weeks the eggs hatch and the hatchlings make their way back into the ocean. 

However, the process is fraught with peril, both of the natural kind and the man-made kind. Attidiya Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre (a branch of the Department of Wildlife Conservation) Veterinary Surgeon Dr. Suhada Jayawardana spoke with Brunch about the behaviour of sea turtles and how we as citizens could be more mindful of the dangers turtles faced during their nesting season. 

“The nesting process is a delicate and vulnerable time for turtles,” Dr. Jayawardana said. “They face numerous threats, from natural predators like wild boars and mongoose to human interference, including poaching and accidental entanglement in fishing nets.” 

Dr. Jayawardana also shared that the nesting season was typically the end of one year and the beginning of the next and was dictated by the fluctuations of the monsoon. The beaches from Galle Face to Angulana predominantly welcome olive ridley turtles from among the five species that visit Sri Lanka’s shores. These turtles display unique nesting behaviours, often preferring darker, less illuminated beaches with calm, shallow waters, such as those found in Wellawatta, Dehiwala, and Mount Lavinia. 

Turtles lay eggs in clutches of on average about 100 eggs, in holes about 1.5 feet deep, which they then cover back up with sand, packing them tightly with their flippers. About two months later, hatchlings emerge and using the light of the moon, make their way to the ocean where they begin their individual life journeys. 

The challenges sea turtles face

Despite the overall serenity that envelops Colombo’s coastal landscape, nesting turtles face a myriad of challenges that threaten their very existence. Human interference, habitat degradation, and climate change all play a part. From a climate perspective, temperature plays a huge role in turtle populations. 

“Beaches should not be very hot,” Dr. Jayawardana explained. “Turtles prefer some moisture and prefer cooler beaches than hot beaches. With very hot beaches, eggs can be destroyed. One major impact of increasing temperatures due to global warming is that outside temperatures affect the sex ratios of the eggs laid. With harsher temperatures, the eggs tend to be more female than male, which can result in an imbalance in future populations.” 

Beyond natural threats, Dr. Jayawardana highlighted that human activities like fishing practices using dynamite posed significant dangers to turtle populations. Dynamite fishing not only decimates fish populations but also maims and kills turtles and other marine mammals, including dolphins. Unethical fishing practices like cutting the flippers of turtles who get entangled in fishing nets to preserve the integrity of a net also contribute as a major human factor in endangering turtle populations. 

Colombo being a city can also confuse hatchlings, who use light and magnetic waves to guide themselves to the ocean after hatching. The lights of nearby buildings can sometimes distract hatchlings, whose journey to the ocean is hard enough as is without being turned around the wrong way. 

Sea turtles also play an important part in their ecosystems – they eat jellyfish and by doing this, maximise fish harvests for surrounding fishermen, because jellyfish tend to eat the small fish that the larger fish feed on. It is a very delicate balance, as with all things in an ecosystem.

Protecting the sea turtle

With turtle nesting and hatching being such a delicate process, there is some help needed in giving these turtles their best chance, and one such initiative that focuses on protecting turtles while they nest is Turtle Patrol – a volunteerism-driven project run by The Pearl Protectors for over three years. The Pearl Protectors Coordinator Muditha Katuwawala gave Brunch some insight on how Turtle Patrol works. 

“Turtle Patrol focuses on ex-situ conservation, moving turtle nests to safer places where they are better protected from human intervention,” Katuwawala shared, explaining that the volunteers of Turtle Patrol patrolled the beaches of Wellawatta, Dehiwala, and Mount Lavinia during the nesting season and worked with the Coast Guard of these beaches to protect turtle nests. 

“In general, there is a big lack of awareness on turtle nesting because it happens in the night, so a lot of people don’t see it,” Katuwawala explained, adding that turtles usually came to shore in the night to lay their eggs, so it was very rare to see a turtle nesting during the day, and this, combined with the fact that turtles laid their eggs and then covered them back up quite tightly, meant that many people were unaware that turtles even nested on Colombo’s beaches. 

But those who know, know. And often this can mean poaching. “People don’t hunt the turtles themselves, but they do steal the eggs because there’s a demand for turtle eggs. In Sri Lanka there’s a myth that these are very high in protein and are very good for you, especially for pregnant women,” Katuwawala said, stressing that this was a myth which had been disproven but still persisted in the social mindset. 

“The second aspect of demand for turtle eggs is tourism – it is solid as an exotic food, despite being illegal. Most poachers tend to be drug addicts who sell clutches of eggs to hotels and restaurants. Not everyone is guilty, of course, but because of a lack of enforcement and monitoring, turtle eggs, though seasonal, have become a quick source of income for many.” 

Turtle Patrol helps limit this by finding turtle nests and alerting the Coast Guard, which then moves these nests closer to its posts where they can be better watched and protected. 

What makes Turtle Parol unique as an initiative is that it is entirely volunteer-driven. “It is probably the highest level of volunteer contribution and mobilisation of its kind. We mobilise over 150 volunteers for two to three months a year patrolling a 5 km stretch of Colombo’s beaches from 9 p.m. to 3.30 a.m. It’s not something that has happened before and shows the genuine commitment of young volunteers in contributing to the conservation of this endangered species.” 

Key to sustaining a volunteer effort like Turtle Patrol is the continued interest of the community, and to that end, Katuwawala invited all those interested in playing a part in saving not just sea turtles, but all Sri Lankan marine life and habitats to consider volunteering their time with organisations like The Pearl Protectors. 

Volunteer voices

Brunch also talked to some of the Turtle Patrol volunteer leaders on what their experiences contributing to turtle conservation have been like. 

‘It’s about making a change’

Lara Wijesuriya, a passionate advocate for conservation and wildlife, once confined her interest to watching animal programmes and reading books. However, her perspective changed when she became involved as a volunteer for The Pearl Protectors, an initiative she described as “a way to make a change in the realm of the sea turtles”. Reflecting on her journey, Lara shared: “I have a life investment in the process now.”

Living in Mount Lavinia, which is home to a small fishing community which lives along the shoreline, Lara emphasised on the importance of understanding the perspective that people around you had of the creatures you were trying to conserve. “When we join as volunteers, we’re reminded to keep in mind they are wild animals,” she explained, highlighting the need for cultural sensitivity and community engagement.

Lara’s involvement extends to protecting turtle nests from disturbance. She emphasised the crucial role of communication with the Coast Guard, stating: “Our type of conservation involves patrolling to help them.” Giving advice for people who encountered a turtle nest, Lara said: “If you come across a turtle laying or a turtle nest, inform the Coast Guard, keep your distance, and basically avoid disturbing it in any way.”

‘A magical and amazing process’

Dehiwala Site Leader Nishadh Iqbal reflected on the marvel that was turtle nesting within the Colombo cityscape. “Turtles coming to our seashores right next to the city is sort of an amazing thing,” he explained, adding that Wellawatta and Dehiwala, once unknown to him, now revealed the enchanting spectacle of turtles laying their eggs amidst the urban hustle.

“It is something magical and amazing,” Nishadh shared, emphasising on the need for preservation and awareness. Through his patrols, he has witnessed the meticulous nesting habits of turtles and the dedication of her fellow volunteers, including Asanka, a Coast Guard whose commitment has been pivotal in their success and who has often patrolled the beaches with them, giving them an added sense of safety.

The journey of conservation is a gradual process, marked by small triumphs and occasional weariness, Nishadha acknowledged: “At the end of the second or third month, you feel a great sense of accomplishment.”

‘We play a part in ensuring their survival’

Volunteer Lead Isuru Egodawela, a dedicated volunteer with Turtle Patrol since 2023, reflected on his experiences as both a patroller and Volunteer Manager, sharing: “Sea turtles are such incredible creatures and I wanted to play a part in ensuring their survival.”

For Isuru, the heart of conservation lies in raising awareness about human impacts on sea turtles. “Reducing plastic pollution, minimising artificial lighting, and supporting sustainable fishing practices are essential,” he emphasised.

Isuru recounted a challenging night near a temple while patrolling Dehiwala South Beach. Amidst the glow of village lights, they encountered stranded hatchlings, led astray by false moons. Despite their efforts, many succumbed to adverse conditions. Isuru reflected: “It’s moments like these that remind us why it’s so important to protect these little guys.”

With unwavering determination, Isuru and his team brave the night, conducting rounds from 10 p.m. to 3-4 a.m., safeguarding nesting sites and rescuing hatchlings. Their tireless efforts embody a profound dedication to preserving the wonders of the ocean.