Turtles Tank Cleaning

This morning we once again dug holes in the sand ,in the hatchery area, and buried the eggs that had been laid and collected overnight. The hole is as deep as the full length of my arm..the turtles 🐢 hatch from that depth after about 48-55 days and just emerge on the surface. The temperature of the sand determines whether it's male or female. There's more males if the temperature is cool.
After the burying of the eggs we were involved in the cleaning of the turtle tanks ...a weekly exercise that involves emptying the water via very makeshift drainage to the sea.Then scrubbing the inside walls and removing algae that builds up .also removing sand from the bottom of the tank...it was hard work in 30degree heat although under cover. Its full on mucky work and also soggy..
The bonus treat is being able to scrub the turtles shell with sand
They actually love it and wriggle this way and that as much as to say...ooh bit more there and bit more here. Iv learnt they have nerve endings in their shell and so can feel it..sometimes I've tickled the shell when they are in the water and the same reaction happens...its amazing.
We had two local schools visiting today and other people from all over the world, India, Russia and Wigan !🤣..not seen anyone from Manchester for so long ...was nice to talk about local stuff and I previously worked at Wigan Infirmary too. . Still not made me homesick!
After lunch we had a tuk tuk ride to the supermarket and I bought body wash shampoo and conditioner ,laughing cow cheeses ,which are a taste of home and chocolate.
This evening we witnessed some turtles hatching , climbing up from the depth of the sand hole.
They were placed in a tank and will be released tomorrow
We once again released approx 200 1day old turtles into the ocean ..and 5 families also joined the event ,paying 5000rupees (£12 )to release a bucket of 25 turtles per bucket
Returning to the accommodation I faced the challenge of a shower in a shower with no shower head !
I gave up and did various contortions to get my legs in the sink ,one at a time , wash my hair under the drizzle of the sink tap
And other essential ablutions!
In clean clothes we went to a nearby bar.
On the way back we walked passed the "spa " next door to our accommodation which apparently is a knocking shop....and there was an obvious queue!
One of the volunteers has a birthday on fri so we are trying to organise entertainment here on Thurs evening..hopefully fire eating, acrobats and traditional dancing ...at my instigation

I've made plans today to have a taxi to Colombo on Friday afternoon where I've booked into the best hotel I can find, which was experienced and recommended by the aussies on my tour ...to compensate for here
There are photos showing how this place was flattened by the Tsunami with the turtles being displaced. And they've had to rebuild it The owner was on a motorbike and got swept into a tree when it happened

In terms of the accommodation I'm.counting the days, but in terms of the turtles it's a pretty amazing privilege to be involvedRead more