Tortoises & Turtles
A newly hatched Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) heads for the sea as fast as its flippers can carry itself, at a secret location in Southern Province, Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan coasts are the birthplace of five out of the six ocean-going turtle species of the world.
The Star Tortoise (Geochelone elegans) is the one and only land tortoise species found here, but it is fairly easy to spot in most national parks. See below for pictures.
Olive Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) being selected for release at a turtle hatchery in Southern Province, Sri Lanka.
Baby turtles can tell when they are weightless or not. They make a swimming motion when in water (or picked up) and instinctively switch to a crawling motion when placed on the sand.
Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) soon to be released from a turtle hatchery in Southern Province, Sri Lanka.
Olive Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) leaving the beach for a life in the Ocean, Southern Province, Sri Lanka.
Brave little Olive Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) know they have to get to the Ocean as quickly as possible, Southern Province, Sri Lanka.
Olive Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) make haste. Luckily for them, there are no Seagulls to attack them in Sri Lanka.
A determined Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) goes it alone, Southern Province, Sri Lanka.
A Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) heads back to the Ocean after laying a large batch of her eggs, Southern Province, Sri Lanka.
This female Green Sea Turtle, like other sea turtles, returns to the beach she was born on to lay her eggs. She will reconnoitre the beach on a previous night to find a suitable spot and may return on more than one night to lay more eggs.
This photograph was taken under a government-approved and supervised night-time excursion. Only an infrared light was used. I have adjusted the colour to monochrome.
No flashlights were allowed, to minimize any disturbance to the turtle.
An unidentified Terrapin in a pond at the sacred Mihintale Temple, North Central Province, Sri Lanka.
A Sri Lanka Soft-shell Terrapin (Lissemys ceylonensis) on a rainy day at the Bundala National Park, Southern Province, Sri Lanka.
They can live all over Sri Lanka up to an altitude of 600m (2,000 feet).
A Sri Lanka Black Terrapin (Melanochelys trijuga) basking on an islet in the boating pond at Viharamahadevi Park, Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka.
The Star Tortoise (Geochelone elegans) is the only species of land tortoise in Sri Lanka. The shell is hard and has a high dome with star-shaped patterns covering it entirely. Some shells are relatively smooth, while others are knobbly.
Star Tortoises can often be seen beside the dirt tracks inside the National Parks. If they realise they are being watched they head for the cover of the bushes, as hastily as their legs allow them.
A Star Tortoise (Geochelone elegans) can often be seen on the dirt tracks inside the National Parks.
This one was not skilled at crossing the road, and needed a little help to get to the other side.
Yala National Park, Southerrn Province, Sri Lanka.
The photographs below are on a slider. Use the thumbnail images or arrows ↔ to move right or left.
The photographs below are on a slider. Use the thumbnail images or arrows ↔ to move right or left.
