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by Tharika Goonathilake

The Wildlife Department will shortly establish special turtle nestling sites, in coastal areas to ensure protection of this globally endangered species and encourage breeding habitats of five of the seven species of turtles that visit Sri Lanka's shore.

This follows a pilot project within a 3 km protected beach area in Bundala where several species of turtles have already been provided with an environment conducive for breeding, Wildlife Director Dayananda Kariyawasam told the `Daily News' yesterday.

According to the Director, although there are local and international conventions prohibiting hunting and egg collection, all seven of the world's turtle species are today threatened with extinction.

The mortality rate of hatchlings and eggs is extremely high given the army of predators they face. Besides human interference- which is seen as the major cause for this detrimental trend- turtle hatchlings, face a serious threat from wild pig, ghost crabs, birds and even dogs.

The department will deploy staff to monitor and regulate the declared 'nestling sites' to increase their chances of survival.

The project, is also seen as much more than conservation with opportunities to develop eco-tourism in the country since research has proven that turtles have inherent navigation capabilities which enable them to return to the hatching sites instinctively.

" Sri Lanka has the distinction of being the 'adoptive home' for five of the world's seven turtle species. However, we have yet to develop this opportunity. Other destinations which have fewer species visiting their shores market themselves as destinations harbouring major turtle nestling sites in their ecotourism promotion propaganda," the Director said.

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