Sea Turtle Hatchery - Habaraduwa — Attraction in Sri Lanka

Our visit to the turtle hatchery in Sri Lanka was an enlightening and heartwarming experience that left a lasting impression on us. From the moment we arrived, the staff greeted us with genuine warmth and hospitality, eager to share their passion for sea life conservation.

The staff members were not only friendly but incredibly knowledgeable, providing us with comprehensive information about the various turtle species, their life cycles, and the challenges they face in their natural habitats. We learned about the critical work being done at the hatchery to protect and rehabilitate these magnificent creatures, as well as how we could contribute to their conservation efforts.

The hatchery's dedication to sea turtle welfare was evident in the care and attention given to each turtle under their watch. We were moved by their commitment to ensuring the health and safety of these vulnerable animals, and it was inspiring to see firsthand the positive impact of their efforts.

In addition to the educational aspect, the hatchery also featured a charming souvenir shop where we could purchase mementos to commemorate our visit. From handmade crafts to locally sourced goods, the shop offered a variety of unique treasures that not only served as reminders of our time at the hatchery but also contributed to supporting their conservation initiatives.

Overall, our experience at the turtle hatchery was both educational and uplifting. The friendly and informative staff, coupled with the opportunity to witness the incredible work being done to protect sea life, made it a highlight of our trip to Sri Lanka. We left feeling inspired and empowered to do our part in preserving these magnificent creatures for future...

Edit : To the owner who has said we ‘misunderstood’, we did not most understand anything, your employee LIED to us t get us to come back. It is clear you are a money making scam as many other review agree with me. Do NOT GO here

We each paid the 1500 entrance fee at around 12:30 in the afternoon, and the boy working there said we could come back at 4:30 when they were going to release the babies into the sea. We asked if it was free of charge and if our tickets would allow re entry, and he said yes. So we hung around the area and then went back at 4:30.

When we returned he said it was 5000 more to release 4 babies into the sea. We were shocked and disappointed at the fact this boy had tried to get more money out of us, It feels very unethical and like a complete money making scam. If they are charging this much money for entrance and to release the babies then you would expect the turtles to be kept in much better conditions, the enclosures seemed very small considering some of the turtles were disabled and would never be released into the wild again.

No one made an effort to explain to us about the different turtles that were there and why they were receiving care. The only bit of information to be seen was a diagram of the turtle life cycle on the wall. Also visitors were left to handle the babies with no supervision from anyone that worked there.

All in all i wouldn’t recommend a visit to this place. We came here because there were so many good reviews but its quite clear they are more bothered about making as much money as possible, and the whole thing felt...

Here comes the Sea Turtle hatchery in Habaraduwa into play. Whenever a turtle gets injured , the people from Habaraduwa – but also neighbouring cities like Mirissa, Pelena, Walliwela and Unawatuna – bring wounded animals to the Sea Turtle Hatchery. They heal their wounds and let them revalidate and put them back into the ocen when they are fully recovered.

When a turtle is carrying eggs, she is said to be gravid, not pregnant. Well, every female turtle is carrying eggs, but they’re infertile until a male turtle passes by and does his thing. The female turtles then search for a nice place on the beach and lay their eggs under the sand.

The people from the sea turtle hatchery pay close attention to the beach and when they see a turtles nest, they dig up the eggs and take them home. That’s why the name says hatchery. They have an area in their garden with around 1000 eggs at any given time.

Why do they dig up the eggs? Turtle eggs are a precious good for animals and humans. Apparently, it’s a delicacy and some people tend to eat the eggs or sell them for a lot of money.

When the eggs hatch in the hatchery they put the baby turtles immediately in the sea so they can have the free life they deserve. If they see some weaker baby turtles they let them strengthen in the hatchery for a while until they’re ready to go.

If you want to visit the hatchery, the entrance is 500 LKR (around 3 dollars/euros). You’re always free to give them some donations so they can keep the turtles near Mirissa & Unawatuna safe. Or you can buy something in their super cute...