Hatching in deadly sands
Amalshan Gunerathne
Valid info...
*Five out of the seven sea turtle species come to nest on Sri Lankan
beaches.
*These include, the Green turtle, the Olive Ridley Turtle, the
Leatherback Turtle, the Hawksbill Turtle and Loggerhead Turtle.
*All Sea turtle species are listed as endangered and threatened.
*Leatherbacks and Hawksbills are considered as critically
endangered.
*Out of the lot ‘Olive Ridley’ is the smallest in stature.
*Leatherbacks are the largest of all sea turtle species.
Not knowing the threats that loom within its sands, every year sea
turtles swim towards the coastal shores of Sri Lanka to build their
hatching nests around its sandy beaches. When the season comes, they
stroll towards the island to lay eggs and give birth to their infant
toddlers. These archaic species have been coming to the island for over
more than million years.
Yet it is questionable as whether they have any sense whatsoever as
to dangers that linger within these sandy shores.
Albino turtle |
Getting a usual pet from the caretakers |
Five out of the seven sea turtle species in the world come to nest on
Sri Lankan beaches. Yet, it is a real shame that all five species are
endangered and subjected to extinction mainly due to manmade causes.
Humans are still listed as their main threat.
Joining in with Zest Kithsiri Kannangara the person in charge of ‘Sea
Turtle Preserving Protection Association, Bentota’ said, “No matter how
restrictive the laws are, the turtle eggs are still extorted and sold in
black-market. Some even kill turtles to export their husks. Through
awareness programs we have suppressed the threat to a certain extent.
But sadly these things still do happen.”
From the seven turtle species, ‘the Green turtle, the Olive Ridley
Turtle, Leatherback Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle and Loggerhead Turtle can
be found in Sri Lankan coastal beaches.
The most common out of the lot are Olive Ridley Turtles. They are
also the smallest turtle species in the world with an adult turtle
averaging around 65 centimeters in length.
Munch munch... |
They prefer tropical and warm waters and can be commonly found in
Pacific, Indian and Southern Atlantic oceans. They are an omnivorous
species and survive on crustacean fish and marine vegetation.
The Green turtles weigh around 230 kilograms and have an average
length of one meter. The name was given not because of their skin colour
but because of the greenish colour of the turtle’s fat, which is found
in a layer between their inner organs and their shell. Young green
turtles are mainly carnivorous in nature; the adults however depend on
marine vegetation.
Leatherback Turtles are the largest of all sea turtle species. They
can grow up to 3 meters in length and usually weigh about 600 kilograms.
“We get around two or three Leatherback sea turtles during the nesting
seasons…they are rare. Leatherback types survive mainly on jellyfish.
Sometimes they mistake polyethylene for jellyfish and consume them. And
also chemicals and other harmful material that get mixed up in the water
affect their natural habitat,” Kannangara articulated.
The Leatherback Sea Turtles are great travellers. Leatherbacks have
even been seen in Arctic Circle, 4,345km away from their tropical
nesting beaches. Yet their ability to adapt and regulate their body
according to the external temperature provides them with a chance to
survive even in extremely hazardous conditions.
Other species that can be found in Sri Lanka are Loggerheads and the
Hawksbills. The Loggerheads are very much carnivorous in nature and
survive on mollusks, jellyfish and crustaceans.
The term Loggerhead refers to the large head which accommodates their
tough muscular jaws. These jaws give them the edge over their prey and
help them to crush their prey to pieces.
The Hawksbill Turtles are also a carnivorous species. They too
survive on jellyfish and other crustacean types.
Kithsiri Kannangara with two baby turtles |
Hawksbills get their English name from the narrow birdlike beak which
they use to catch preys that are hiding in small crevices.
Fossilized remains of a turtle |
From these five species, the Leatherback and Hawksbill sea turtles
are considered as critically endangered, Olive Ridley and Green sea
turtles as endangered and the Loggerheads as threatened. Expressing his
thoughts on the dilemma, Kannangara stated, “Sometimes turtles nest in
densely commercialized beaches. The beaches no longer provide them with
the natural atmosphere which is needed to carry out their nesting
process.
Instead, Tourist hotels and other industrialized groups are set up
alongside the beaches and this affects their natural habitat.”
Natural threats like sea erosion and climate changes also affect
their natural habitat.
Sharing his experiences with Zest, Kannangara said, “The effect made
by climate change is quite astonishing.
“In recent times, turtles came to nest even in early mornings and
evenings mistaking it for the night times. Adding to that - dogs,
reptiles and other animal species can threaten their nesting grounds.”
One of turtles who lost its leg |
Showing an unhatched egg to foreigners. Pictures by Mahinda
Vitanachchi |
To aggravate the dilemma, some even use sea turtle preserving centers
for commercial purposes. They carry out black market businesses in the
disguise of these preserving centers.
Sharing his thoughts on the dilemma Kannangara went on to say, “True,
some have even set up preserving centers many kilometers away from the
coastal lands.
They use those centers as exhibition centers to earn money. This is a
grave dilemma. Sea Turtles should be brought up in close proximity to
the coastal beaches. If you bring them up in cement tanks, they become
very weak. They won’t survive for long in natural habitat.”
Kannangara also invited both foreign and local volunteers to join
hands with to save these endangered species. |