World Turtle Day Observed at Bentota Beach
A thousand baby turtles made tiny imprints in the sand as they scuttled across the Bentota beach to the sea. Bentota Beach Hotel along with the Victor Hasselblad Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Center, Sri Lanka recently released 1,000 newly hatched baby turtles into the sea to mark ‘World Turtle day’.
The baby critters were released to highlight the hotel’s commitment to conservation.
With 7 recognized species of turtle around the world and with all but one species classified as endangered, sea turtles are often unfortunate victims to the negative human imprint.
Out of the seven species, the Sri Lankan shores are home to five, including the Green Turtle, Olive Ridley, Hawksbill, Loggerhead and the largest of its species, the Leatherback.
Thousands of turtles are killed across the globe every year owing to pollution, poaching, bad fishing practices and the loss of egg laying habitats among others and Sri Lanka’s Southern sands have always been a popular haunt for turtles to lay their eggs.
