Highlights
- A small hatchery set up to protect sea turtles
- Five species of sea turtle nest on Sri Lankan beaches
- Hatchlings are kept safe until they are ready for the sea
- Visitors may see babies released within days of hatching
Overview
Habaraduwa, on the coast between Galle and Koggala, is home to a sea turtle hatchery established in 1986. Like other hatcheries in the south, it buys turtle eggs found by local people, which might otherwise be eaten or sold, and buries them in protected sand to hatch. The hatchlings are then released to the sea.
What you see
- Hatching pens: fenced sand areas with markers for each batch of eggs.
- Hatchlings: kept briefly in tanks before release, usually at dusk.
- Adult turtles: some injured or disabled turtles are cared for, including ones hurt by fishing nets.
Staff explain the five species of sea turtle that nest in Sri Lanka: green, olive ridley, loggerhead, hawksbill and leatherback, and the threats they face from poaching, fishing nets, plastic and lost nesting beaches.
A note on ethics
Scientists debate keeping hatchlings in tanks and handling turtles for visitors. Many recommend releasing hatchlings as soon as possible and keeping handling to a minimum. Choose places that follow this approach, keep tanks clean and do not encourage photos with turtles.
How long it takes
About thirty to forty-five minutes.
When to go
Open daily. Ask whether a release is planned for the evening.
Getting there
Habaraduwa is about 15 minutes by road east of Galle, on the coast road towards Koggala and Mirissa.
Practical tips
- An entry fee or donation is expected.
- No flash photography near turtles.
Nearby: Habaraduwa beach, the stilt fishermen and Galle Fort. See things to do in Galle and Galle hotels.
Prices are as of October 2026 and may change.
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