Sea Turtle Hatchery Visit

Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project is one of Sri Lanka's longest-operating sea turtle hatcheries, collecting eggs from five nesting turtle species along the beach at night and incubating them in protected sand nurseries before releasing the hatchlings into the sea. Visitors walk through the hatchery with a guide who explains the life cycle and conservation challenges facing each turtle species, and are often invited to participate in the release of small hatchlings directly onto the beach.

The project also maintains a small hospital tank for injured adult turtles rescued from fishing nets, providing a rare opportunity to see full-grown green, leatherback, and loggerhead turtles at close quarters.

Shorta Tours arranges Sea Turtle Hatchery Visit as part of a tailored private itinerary, providing expert guides, comfortable private transfers, and hand-picked operators to ensure a seamless and truly memorable experience.

Sea turtle hatcheries along the southwest coast of Sri Lanka began in the early 1970s, established by government wildlife agencies in response to significant declines in sea turtle nesting populations due to egg collection and coastal development. The Kosgoda project has been operating since 1981 and has released hundreds of thousands of hatchlings into the Indian Ocean in that time.

Sri Lanka's beaches between Bentota and Tangalle host five of the world's seven sea turtle species: green, hawksbill, loggerhead, leatherback, and olive ridley.

Today, Sea Turtle Hatchery Visit remains one of the highlights of visiting southwest coast, drawing guests from around the world who seek its unique combination of history, nature, and authentic Sri Lankan character.

The hatchery is open daily; a small donation is requested rather than a fixed fee. Evening visits (after 7 pm) may coincide with nesting females if season permits; daytime visits focus on the hatchling tanks and hospital.

Shorta Tours integrates the hatchery into coastal journeys and supports responsible operators with verifiable conservation credentials.

Essential items to pack: Comfortable clothes, camera (no flash near turtles), cash donation..