HIKKADUWA · SRI LANKA

Every journey
begins with a life.

Protecting sea turtles. Restoring hope.
Preserving our ocean.

Discover the delicate journey from warm sand to open sea, and the people working to give it a chance.

To Journey SOUTHERN COAST · INDIAN OCEAN
A quieter kind of wonder 01 — 04
Concept artwork · supplied for this site
SCROLL TO DISCOVER
01 THE PLACE

Where care meets
the open sea.

Along Sri Lanka’s southern coast, every turtle’s journey is shaped by the health of the beach, the care of local people, and the freedom of the ocean.

Take a moment to learn about the work underway in Hikkaduwa and the small choices that can make a difference for marine life.

Explore the work ↗

The Sri Lanka Coast Guard lists Hikkaduwa among its turtle conservation and hatchery locations.

Read the official overview ↗
02 THE JOURNEY

FROM NEST TO BLUE

One small beginning.
A world of possibility.

Scroll gently through the story

01 / The nesting shore

0104

A beginning,
beneath the sand.

A sea turtle’s life begins on a beach, in a nest carefully shaped by nature.

Ocean habitat · illustrative image
Skip story ↓
03 A LIFE CYCLE

From nest to open water.

Each stage depends on a safe habitat and a healthy ocean. Follow the path, then explore the ways people can help.

Concept artwork of a sea turtle and nest near a tropical hatcheryConcept visual

01 · NEST

Quiet beginnings

Eggs are laid in sandy nests on beaches. Nesting sites need darkness, space, and protection.

Concept artwork of hatchlings emerging from a sandy nest at sunsetConcept visual

02 · HATCH

A first emergence

Hatchlings make their way from nest to sea, guided by natural cues from the horizon.

Concept artwork of hatchlings reaching the ocean with conservation staff nearbyConcept visual

03 · SHORE

Across the beach

A clear, dark shoreline helps hatchlings orient towards the ocean without disturbance.

Concept artwork of turtles swimming near a hatchery habitatConcept visual

04 · OCEAN

Into the blue

At sea, turtles travel through a vast world where healthy habitats matter at every turn.

For their wellbeing, observe turtles quietly and follow the center team’s guidance. Never touch or handle a turtle unless directed by a qualified conservation professional.

04 CONSERVATION

CARE FOR A SHARED HOME

Protection is
a community effort.

Sri Lanka’s Coast Guard describes its turtle project as protecting nesting beaches, safeguarding eggs, caring for hatchlings, and building community awareness. Hikkaduwa is one of the locations in that wider programme.

Learn about the Coast Guard project ↗
Coastal scene · illustrative image
05 MEET THE SPECIES

A coast shared
with ancient travellers.

Sri Lankan waters are home to five sea turtle species. These portraits are a guide to the wider region, not a list of animals at this specific center.

01Green turtleChelonia mydas↗
02HawksbillEretmochelys imbricata↗
03Olive ridleyLepidochelys olivacea↗
04LeatherbackDermochelys coriacea↗
05LoggerheadCaretta caretta↗
Species list based on Sri Lanka Coast Guard information ↗
07 PLAN A VISIT

A PLACE TO LEARN, LISTEN & CARE

Meet the coast
with curiosity.

Visitor schedules, fees, and experiences can change. Please confirm current arrangements directly with the center before travelling. During your visit, give wildlife space and follow staff guidance.

Find Hikkaduwa ↗Hikkaduwa · Southern Province · Sri Lanka
“

The ocean is not a place apart.
It is a home we share.

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