Sea Turtle Conservation in Sri Lanka

This project is perfect if you are passionate about nature, the environment, and the ocean. You’ll get the chance to work outdoors, protecting sea turtles and helping with important conservation.

It’s also great if you’re interested in pursuing a career in marine conservation.  You’ll gain fantastic hands-on experience.

You’ll spend your volunteering trip with passionate conservation staff, who actively protect and help the local environment through different types of programs. The best part? You get to tap into their knowledge and experience, using it to learn more about different types of conservation initiatives in Sri Lanka.

You don’t need experience for this project. A willingness to help, learn and explore is all we ask of you! On the first day our centre supervisor will guide you through the whole process and throughout your time at the project our staff will be there to help you.

The project is available all year round, so you can choose the perfect time to travel, fitting your schedule.

So why not travel to a beautiful part of the world this year, make new friends, learn about sea turtles and help protect our oceans?

The main goal of this project is to ensure the protection and survival of endangered sea turtles and preserve the local ecosystem.

All species of sea turtles are listed as threatened or endangered in Sri Lanka. We aim to provide data and insights that help with the protection of these incredible creatures.

Here’s just one example of why this work is crucial: different populations of Green turtles around the world are likely to have different migratory paths. If Green turtles in one geographic area go extinct, it may be impossible to replace them with turtles from another area. This is because the new arrivals will lack the inherited instructions needed to navigate within and from their new homes.

The work you do – such as protecting the sea turtle eggs and helping the emerging baby turtles – contributes directly to preventing these problems.

You’ll wake up in the home of your host family and enjoy a delicious Sri Lankan style breakfast which will fuel you for the day ahead. We’ll then pick you up and take you to the nearby conservation centre.

Each day is different on the project, with the work changing depending on the season.  However, your supervisor will design a schedule each week to make the most of your time.

A typical day will start early, with volunteers and staff gathering at the centre to agree on the plan for the day.

You might start your morning with a beach patrol.  You’ll walk together across the sandy local beaches, collecting any litter that could be dangerous for animals.

After lunch at the centre, you’ll spend time tending to the turtle hatchlings. This could include cleaning out their tanks or even feeding them.

You may also need to rest up ahead of a nighttime beach patrol. Here you’ll all go together, looking for nests of newly-laid turtle eggs.  You’ll transport them safely back to the centre, where you can prepare them for eventual release back into the ocean.

Once you’re done for the day, you’re free to relax and explore. We run regular social events for our volunteers, which is a wonderful way to make new friends and get to know the local staff. You can find out more about the local way of life, spending the evening with your host family. Try out the nearby restaurants, spend some time on the beach, or check out the tourist sites and local landmarks.