In 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024, the Czech NGO Protecting Sea Turtles monitored a total of 53 turtle rescue centres in Sri Lanka and in 2023 visited 15 centres in Indonesia (4 in Java, and 11 in Bali, Gili and Lombok).
Unfortunately, most were equipped with pools in which these centers raise baby sea turtles. In practice, a totally unacceptable method of sea turtle conservation. Why?
They buy eggs from fishermen and encourage poaching
In most cases, turtle rescue centres are relatively well maintained and attractively decorated, including educational signs. However, the first major controversy begins with the very discovery of where the centers get their turtle eggs. They buy them from fishermen, which unfortunately only encourages the illegal theft of eggs from beaches, or more rarely, they obtain them during nightly turtle patrols.
Inadequate hatcheries
Staff at these centers often reported low hatchery success rates. This is because poachers handle the eggs carelessly, often bringing them to the centres in a plastic bag on a motorbike, and it is not surprising that only 30 out of 100 eggs hatch. Many hatcheries are also unsuitable because of unmarked clutches, their small spacing, depth and also the lack of sand shading. This causes the high temperature and the fact that mostly females hatch today.
The release of the chicks to certain death
Unfortunately, the release of small turtles into the sea often takes place in these centres during the day, so the turtles burn the lower part of their shells on the hot sand, which is not yet closed; if it is above 35 °C, the turtles die immediately. All this is done in the presence of curious tourists, for a fee, during group events on the beaches. The workers at the rescue centres are private individuals, but also state-paid conservationists or university volunteers who always justify their activities by their love of nature and their desire to make a difference. Very often, however, it is mainly the growing amount of money in their pockets that makes the difference.
Damn swimming pools everywhere
All of the centres visited in Indonesia, and unfortunately most of those in Sri Lanka, were equipped with pools where baby sea turtles were kept, ranging in age from hatching to several years. In more than one case, the pools were dirty, overcrowded with turtles of different species, turtles fed with unsuitable food or dead turtles in the tank with live turtles.
Adult turtles were also found in the pools, besides injured and handicapped individuals, also perfectly healthy looking ones. Over time, turtles in pools develop stunted muscles (they cannot swim against the waves), fail to develop lungs (they cannot dive sufficiently) and do not hunt for food naturally. After 2 days, they lose the instinct of how and where to return to lay eggs as adults. Baby turtles must therefore be released on the day of hatching and when the sand is cool (after 6pm).
Small and healthy turtles belong in the sea, not in pools!
We recommend checking the internet before visiting any centre, if the centre has pools and small or healthy looking turtles in them, think twice about your visit. Please only visit centres that do not keep small turtles in the pools. Only turtles that would otherwise not survive in the wild should be kept in rescue centers.
Your visit and/or donation to the turtle centers makes a big difference. Only visit programs that actually help sea turtles. In Sri Lanka, for example, the following locations are recommended to visit.
How can you help? Donate with VAKOVAKO!
Support the great nonprofit Save Turtle and help sea turtles survive. 100% of your donation will be used to fund conservation projects in Indonesia and Sri Lanka that will give hundreds of thousands of baby turtles a chance to hatch safely and boost the population of these endangered creatures.
Donate and become a tortoise shell to protect them from extinction!
