Darien Resident Helps Endangered Sea Turtles
The December 2004 Tsunami in South East Asia included in its wrath the destruction of a sea turtle hatchery in Sri Lanka that had been managed by the same family for two generations. The hatchery was on the western coast of the country and was run by Mr. Chandrasiri Abbrew and his family.
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Margi and David Anderson of Darien were then living in Tokyo and decided to help with reconstruction of the hatchery. This would allow visitors to see the hatchery was being rebuilt and also attract donations from local visitors and tourists. After much email traffic, a plan was agreed and supplies purchased and people hired. The project continues with the hope it will be complete in 2008. In addition to turtle tanks and hatching areas there will be a modest restaurant and a souvenir shop.
Sri Lanka is visited by five endangered species of sea turtles. Mr. Abbrew and his family incubate some 75,000 turtle eggs per year and care for adult turtles that have been hurt or are handicapped. Their model is simple, to pay local people for turtle eggs as an option to eating them. Payments for turtle eggs support about 60 families in the neighborhood. Funding comes from admission fees and donations from tourists. No government financial support is available but necessary regulatory approvals have been received.
David started his banking career when Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon and he became interested in the country from periodic visits to meet with clients. His career has been focused on the Asia Pacific region for many years. In addition, he and his wife are interested in sea turtles and their unique characteristics. They hope others will join them by supporting the Abbrew family. This will help hatchling turtles overcome 1,000 to one odds of growing to five feet in length and weighing hundreds of pounds while roaming the oceans for decades.