Hands on turtles

After an uneasy night in the accommodation, which is grim and with which I'm struggling we rose to breakfast and an introductory presentation
Meals are included in the price I paid to come here.
Iv ascertained that volunteers get Friday afternoon and weekends off , that the other volunteers go away for the weekend so il leave on Friday , not Sunday and go to stay in the hotel in Colombo that my tour group went to...or a similar one
This mornings tasks included shifting bricks to build a new tank for the turtles. Also actually handling them to move from one tank to another for feeding. They are fed alternate days with tuna.
We had to create a hole in the sand to bury the eggs that were laid overnight ..approx 200.these will stay underground until ready to hatch at which point they appear on the surface and are transferred to the tank
They are released to the sea at night / late evening. making sure there are no predators around
The project releases 60% of the turtles and keeps 40%
This afternoon I had a go at brick laying much to the amusement of the proper brickies and making sure it was above the intended water level as I didn't want to be responsible for a leak
I also helped with teaching English to a 17yr old boy and his 6yr old sister
Releasing the 1day old baby turtles was hugely moving and emotional..to see them scurrying for the sea , instinctively knowing what they had to do and then to see them swept up in a wave ,knowing they're on their way into an uncertain future in the ocean...survival rates are poor
They have to make that journey to feel the sand as they return in years to come to the same beach to lay their own eggs
The eggs look like a golf ball or hard boiled egg but are actually quite squishy...have to be careful not to squeeze too hard
A really good 1st dayRead more