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Marine Turtle Newsletter 22:4-5, © 1982

Beach Development in Sri Lanka

Seekar Dattatri¹ and Dharmin Samarajiva^2
1Madras Snake Park Trust, Guindy Deer Sanctuary, Madras 600 022, India
²Sri Lanka

(Excerpts from a preliminary survey report on "The present status and distribution of sea turtles in southwest and southeastern Sri Lanka".)

Beaches with smooth slopes and large beach platforms ideal for most sea turtles are ironically also the most favoured by the fast expanding tourist industry. In recent times there has been a proliferation of tourist complexes in many areas such as Bentota and Hikkadua to name a few. No doubt, these constructions will have an adverse effect on sea turtles.

The erection of fences and lights in the process of development is undoubtedly proving a major deterrent. The authors witnessed on a few occasions turtles dig in vain under the fences that impeded their mission and return to sea without laying, hurting themselves in the process. Besides, the resulting increase in human density in these areas may mean increase in human activity on the beaches at night during the peak hours of nesting (generally between 9 and 11 PM). This is another serious obstacle to nesting turtles which are very sensitive to disturbances on the shore.

Reliable sources in Bentota and Hikkadua affirmed that there had been a considerable decrease in nesting during the past few years. In Bentota for instance, body pits were conspicuously absent while much nesting activity was observed during the same period on Kosgoda, hardly five kilometres away. Near Bentota the authors were able to observe on several occasions green turtles come out of the sea, ascend the shore for a few feet and then return back to the sea without laying, apparently disturbed by the presence of bright lights on the shore. Beaches with lights have fewer turtles coming ashore and consequently fewer eggs, and those nests that occur and hatch will be subject to mass destruction through disorientation of emerging hatchlings.

The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka (WNPS) has established a turtle hatchery at a point between Indurawa and Ahungalla known as Kosgoda. The hatchery is progressing well and over 12,000 eggs have been collected from this stretch alone this year. The emerging hatchlings are released into the sea to grow and perpetuate the species. This is the first step towards the rehabilitation of endangered species and a commendable one indeed. The Society's efforts are in vain however, if further development is permitted along this stretch. It is learnt that a lot of land has already been sold for tourism development. Fences have been erected around these plots and are proving a hindrance to nesting turtles as has been observed on many occasions. Should resorts take over this stretch of beach, the result would be disastrous for nesting turtles.

We plead that the stretch between Indurawa and Ahungalla be declared a National Sea Turtle Sanctuary.