Regenerating fragile ecosystems
Supporting science-based environmental conservation and restoration efforts.
Sea Turtles, a glimpse into the potential for more “responsible tourism”…
Sri Lanka’s Mount Lavinia beach is a fertile nesting ground for sea turtles, including the threatened Olive Ridley Sea Turtle species. Sri Lanka sees five of seven species of sea turtles coming ashore to nest each year, making the island a global hotspot for sea turtle reproduction. Unfortunately, rapid development of coastal areas, mismanagement and unplanned urbanization has had damaging effects on the well-being and survival of these precious species, particularly near Sri Lanka’s busy capital Colombo.
RETRACE™ Hospitality acts as Asset Manager for a private tourism rental near the beach in Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka. Some may suggest the property employs a “quadruple-bottom-line” approach to its operations, placing the local community, environment and ecosystem at the center of it’s tourism rental business. We believe any business within proximity to a beach maintains some responsibility to contribute towards the regeneration of coastal ecosystems.
Scroll below for further information on our contribution towards community-led sea turtle conservation in Mount Lavinia.
In both 2024 and 2023, RETRACE™ Hospitality teamed up with The Pearl Protectors to support their Turtle Patrol initiative. Over a period of 60 continuous days from February to April 2023, and 79 days from January to March 2024, sixty+ volunteers patrolled the populated stretch of beaches from Mount Lavinia to Wellawatte, late at night, to ensure safe passage of turtles shoring to nest, and hatchlings heading to sea.
In 2022, over 90 turtles nested near the shores of Mount Lavinia. In 2023 over 6000 turtle eggs and in 2024 a staggering 14,204 turtle eggs were conserved thanks to Pearl Protectors’ patrolling efforts. Turtle eggs fall victim to poaching and stray dogs and turtle populations along densely populated coastal towns are losing precious habitat. Research suggests only one-in-a-thousand turtle hatchlings released will eventually return to the coast to lay eggs, RETRACE™ Hospitality appreciates the significance of Pearl Protector’s Turtle Patrol initiative.
A part of the revenue generated through asset management of tourism rentals has contributed towards the creation and installation of signage along the Dehiwala – Mount Lavinia beach, warning beach-goers of sensitive “Turtle Nesting Areas”.
In the future, we will be sharing more detailed science-based information, through the research and field work carried out by The Pearl Protectors.
Read the full Research Findings and Report that Pearl Protectors published in April 2024, following the successful completion of their third consecutive Turtle Patrol initiative.
For more information about The Pearl Protectors and their conservation and restoration initiatives across Sri Lanka, visit www.pearlprotectors.org.