DAILY NEWS (Sri Lanka) 04 February 05 Turtle conservation projects begin (Florence Wickramage)
Restoration work of the Turtle Conservation Project (TCP) has commenced following the temporary set-back it suffered due to the tsunami waves devastating the southern coastline, Chairman of the TCP Thushan Kapurusinghe, told the Daily News yesterday.
The turtle hatcheries the TCP was closely monitoring specially on the Kosgoda beach were severely affected due to the destruction of the beach vegetation and debris being swept on to the beach.
Attention has been foucused on the need to scientifically improve the beach and coastal vegetation as most of such areas provide breeding habitats to turtles.
The TCP work was also disrupted due to the loss of three of its employees and their houses and property. The project office was also destroyed along with research equipment.
Kapurusinghe said he has also drawn the attention of Wildlife authorities on the need to discourage illegal hatcheries.
In the case of privately owned hatcheries the need for such to be under the control of the Department of Wildlife Conservation and for expert guidance and scientific monitoring by expert turtle conservationists was emphasised.
Volunteers are now patrolling beach stretches which are mostly frequented by turtles while attending to work connected with the restoration of the beaches.
The impact of the tsunami on the Rekawa beach had been minimal while turtle hatcheries along Bundala were saved due to the presence of undisturbed sand dunes, Kapurusinghe said.
Turtle conservation projects begin