Student Stories from Abroad - Kevin C.

One of the highlights of my internship last summer was definitely the opportunity to visit a sea turtle sanctuary in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The sanctuary was divided into two sections. The first section was a rescue program, that either healed or took-in turtles that had major injuries or lost ligaments due to fishing nets that would wrap around the turtle’s fins and eventually cut it off. Most of these turtles are used for educational purposes and live a safe life in the sanctuary. The second section is a sort of ‘breeding’ program where thousands of sea turtles eggs are maintained and cared for at the sanctuary. These turtle eggs hatch, remain at the sanctuary for a few weeks or months depending on health conditions, and then released into the ocean when ready. In this picture, I was lucky enough to hold a 2-month old sea turtle a few days before its release. Getting up close and personal with wildlife in a sustainable and healthy manner is always something I would recommend to anyone going on an international experience! It provides you with a whole new level of respect and wonder for the land and wildlife you're visiting.