B.K. Nimal Shantha took over the running of the Turtle Farm in 2005.
His Father B.K. Ariyapala Shantha started the Farm in 2000 helped
by his sisters and mother. When his father died the family continued
to run the farm. On 26 th December 2004 when the Tsunami struck
the south west coast. Nimal was working in Colombo. He arrived
back at the farm to find his mother, two sisters, his wife and three
small children had all died. He gave up his job to rebuild the turtle
farm and continue his family’s conservation work.
Nimal rebuilt the hatchery, tanks and his accommodation with
assistance from the Hikkaduwa Area Relief Fund (HARF) in the UK
and also with donations from Denmark and Germany.
Eggs are collected or bought from local villagers and buried in the
sand hatchery. If there is a lot o sunshine they hatch after 48 days.
If it is raining it can take up to 60 days before the turtles emerge
from the eggs. They are then placed in the tanks and for first 3 days
remain without food to cleanse them of material ingested form the
eggshell. They are then given small pieces of fish for a further 7
days. Learning to dive down into the tank to take the food. When
they an do this. They can be safely released into the sea where
they can fish for themselves on the coral reefs. |
