HISTORY IN BRIEF

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This is the oldest Conservation and Research project started in Sri Lanka in early 1978. It was at a time when all 7 species of sea turtles were on the Endangered list. Of the 7 species, 5 of the species were found to be frequenting the beaches of the southern coast of Sri Lanka where they beached, to lay their eggs. These eggs were collected by the villagers and sold in the open market.

It was about this time when the famous Swedish camera maker Victor Hasselblad whose cameras were the first to be used on the moon, came into the picture. He happened to be a close friend of the highly renowned Sri Lankan bird photographer, Dr Upane de Zylva , and Victor, having similar interests in photography, had made a donation through Dr Zylva to be used in any form of conservation and research, in Sri Lanka.

The late Dr. Siri Wickremesinghe, happened to be close friend of Dr Zylva. Dr. Wickremesinghe, like his friend,had similar interests in wild life and nature and the two of them decided that a turtle conservation project would be the best. It so happened that Dr Zylva knew Similiyas Abbrew, father of Chandrasiri and grandfather of Isuru, and when he told him about their intended project, he was only too happy to give part of his property to build the hatchery. Nape, in Kosgoda was a favourite beach for the turtles to lay their eggs, and so it all fell into place. Thanks to Victor Hasselblad and Dr.Zylva and Dr. Wickremesinghe, the turtles have found a safe haven and they are increasing in numbers. It is a wonderful experience to see the hatchlings, once released on the beach, rushing to catch the first wave!

Founders :

Mr. K.S Abrew, Dr. Upendra Silva, Dr. Wickramasinghe

WHY WE ARE ASTONISHING

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• Victor Hasselblad sea turtle research and conservation center, Kosgoda is the 1st turtle conservation center established in Sri Lanka in 1978.
• We own the pure records of White Sea turtle.
• Great recognition and place for worldwide volunteers.
• We possess very old records of sea turtle
• Tagging
• Healing and Rescuing sea turtle
• Release of the highest record up to 4 and half million turtle.
• Beautiful and clean beach experience

OUR SERVICES

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• Educational programmes for school children
• Awareness raising for public
• Experience for Volunteers
• Certification for worldwide volunteers
• Turtle releasing events for special life events (as request)

BE A VOLUNTEER

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Residential or part time Volunteers for a maximum time period are welcome to Victor Hasselblad sea turtle research and conservation center, Kosgoda. Here, you can learn, get live experience, live movements, photography, knowledge sharing, do researches and experiments as well.

Being a volunteer at our hatchery will be an honor to anyone in accordance with the range of knowledge and experience earned. Finally, we provide a world accepted valid certificate to all volunteers after completing their successful voluntary service period.

HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT?

Protecting eggs and buying eggs from dealers is not an easy task specifically fixing a money rate. But we need to conserve sea turtle for the future and need your each kind of help and encourage to continue this hard mission. You can help us by

• Donating
• Publishing our conservation center
• Sending us more volunteers
• Sending us more visitors
• Promoting our center for researchers etc.