Australian-owned Templeberg Villa in Galle and the Sri Lankan-based Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project have teamed up to raise funds to help Sri Lanka protect its sea turtles this World Turtle Day, Friday 23 May 2014.

(TRAVPR.COM) AUSTRALIA - May 22nd, 2014 - Thursday, 22 May 2014, Melbourne, Australian-owned Templeberg Villa in Galle and the Sri Lankan-based Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project have teamed up to raise funds to help Sri Lanka protect its sea turtles this World Turtle Day, Friday 23 May 2014.

The collaboration between Templeberg Villa and Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project (the KSTC Project) will raise awareness about turtle conservation by encouraging people from all over the world to pledge funds towards turtle conservation.

The KSTC Project, which commenced in 1988, aims to monitor local sea turtle activity, buy back turtle eggs otherwise headed to local markets and conserve turtles’ local nesting sites.

A decade after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami wiped out the KSTC Project's hatchling centre – when 200 adult sea turtles disappeared – the hatchery facility has been lovingly rebuilt and with the help of volunteers once again is breeding sea turtles and restoring the turtles natural beach habitat.

Mr Dudley Perera, founder of the KSTC Project and a Tsunami survivor, spoke of the project’s success and said: “since 1988, the project has released more than 10,000 turtles into their natural environment”.

Based in an environmentally sensitive coastal part of Sri Lanka, Mr Perera added: “the KSTC Project takes particular pride in its contributions to Sri Lanka’s biodiversity”.

Templeberg Villa’s partnership with the project fulfils a responsibility felt by its owners Mr Brent Carey and Mr Christopher Shields and the villa’s staff to the Sri Lankan environment.

“Partnering with the KSTC Project and investing in its biodiversity program, particularly in its turtle hatchling efforts, is a logical way for Templeberg Villa to make a contribution.”

“Many conservation efforts in developing countries such as Sri Lanka rely heavily on grassroots activities and the support of private donations. Every dollar counts”, said Mr Carey.

To sponsor the KSTC Project for World Turtle and World Sea Turtle Day visit www.wildlifevolunteercrowdfunding.com or www.templeberg.com

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Note to editor: High-res jpegs of Sri Lankan sea turtles and a copy of the crowdfunding video are available.  Interviews with Dudley Perera, Director of the Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project can be arranged for Thursday, 22 May 2014. Please contact Brent Carey with any requests.

Background

About Templeberg Villa

Templeberg Villa is a Kiwi/Aussie, family run villa rental service in Galle, Sri Lanka. Templeberg Villa’s history dates back to 1864, when the property was first established as an Old Dutch Colonial Merchants house and working coconut plantation. The style of the property is befitting of a colonial manor house that has been lovingly restored and furnished with period antiques by a German expatriate family.  

Templeberg Villa is a true family effort, led by Christopher Shields and his partner Brent Carey and Christopher’s mother, Karin Jansson who speaks fluent Swedish. After years in the New Zealand and Australian hospitality and banking sectors, Christopher was drawn to the opportunities presented by villa management in South East Asia having lived and travelled extensively throughout Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia Hong Kong and Taiwan. Shields ‘extensive knowledge of hospitality and marketing sectors is complemented by Carey’s business and public relations experience.

Villa reservations can be made online at www.templeberg.com or by email contact@templeberg.com.

About the Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project

The KSTCP is run by Dudley Perera and his family. Dudley, a native of Kosgoda, has been involved with turtle conservation in the area since 1988. He began working with turtles straight out of school, funding the project with his own money. He spent 5 years developing the project before winning a scholarship in 1993 to study conservation of sea animals in South Korea, during which he left the KSTCP in the care of his friends and family.

Dudley is passionate about the welfare and future of turtles in Sri Lanka and passing his knowledge and enthusiasm onto locals and visitors alike.

Post-tsunami, Dudley still flies the flag for turtle conservation in Kosgoda but has twinned this with a desire to help his villagers in community projects.

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