Turtle Watch Rekawa in Southern Province

🕗 opening times

comments 5

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  BLE

  :: 02 April 2018 23:53:13

  We could see a magnificent big turtle laying her eggs and going back to the sea. It is surely an amazing thing to experience but the high number of tourists massed together around the animal made me feel a bit uncomfortable... Phones, cameras and any other light sources should be banned for visitors as it can disturb the turtles. Tourists' lack of respect is not taken seriously enough by the staff IMO. Entrance fee: 1000,- LKR

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  Jonas Laubmann

  :: 27 March 2018 23:41:34

  Please don't go there...There have been arround 50-60 persons and the guides weren't able to manage them not to go too near to the turtles. We thought we will see the turtles coming out of the ocean and then stay away while they lay their eggs. Unfortunately we watched them laying there eggs and the people didn't stay away and tried to get as near as possible. There was only one guide for all the people and two turtles. So please don't support that kind of animal abuse, that cannot be good for the turtles. If I would've known that before I wouldn't have went there.

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  Tom Berndt

  :: 21 March 2018 05:33:51

  I find it very disturbing these guys take money from old folks obviously not capable to walk two and a half hour in a soft sand which is around 4 kilometres they never let you know so much walking involved you find out as you go they doing important things we all know that so if you think you're not fit enough to walk few hours in a soft sand in the middle of the night to see one if you're lucky two Turtles please consider it to go there

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  Ashi S

  :: 15 February 2018 16:13:56

  Incredible! They were extremely careful and made sure the visitors do not use flash lights to distract the turtles. We were also rewarded with an incredible view of the milky way. Unforgettable!

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  Heidrun Frisch-Nwakanma

  :: 03 February 2018 09:07:40

  I can't confirm the negative ratings. Yes, there were quite a few people - but that is hardly the fault of the project. They managed it quite well, ensuring that everybody gets to see the turtle for a few minutes while the others had to stand back. As they should, they were very strict about only using red light (no flash) and not standing in front of the turtle. They also only allowed anyone close once she had finished digging the egg chamber and started laying, when the chances of disturbance are minimal. As regards disturbing her with noise, everyone around was quiet and even walked softly. Yes, of course the guide spoke loudly, but human speech is not in their hearing range, or at least the sensitive part of it - evidence suggests that they hear low frequency sounds and otherwise react to vibrations and air displacement. I really wish people informed themselves a bit before trashing a community-led conservation initiative. Far from not giving benefits to turtles, the fact that now the community can earn money by protecting the nests has made a world of difference. Yes, it means one or two turtles per night have to put up with being watched while laying eggs, but it has saved thousands of clutches since the project was started in the 90s. So please go, don't begrudge them the 1000 rupees and follow the instructions, and it will not harm the turtles and provide income to many families at the same time.