Turtle Conservation Project

What Turtle Conservation Project does

Turtle Conservation Project (TCP), legally registered as Sri Lanka Turtle Conservation Project and founded in 1993 by Project Leader Thushan Kapurusinghe, is an independent non-governmental organization headquartered in Panadura, Sri Lanka, with operational sites in Kosgoda and Rekawa. The organization designs and implements community-based marine turtle conservation strategies built around three integrated pillars: in-situ nest protection employing former egg collectors as paid nest protectors (15 in Kosgoda, 20 in Rekawa); mangrove restoration and nursery programs covering 3,000 hectares of coastal area; and alternative livelihood development spanning batik production, sewing groups, ornamental fish breeding, tourism guiding, and home gardens. Education and awareness work runs through school lectures, mobile film units, three community libraries (Rekawa, Kalpitiya, Kosgoda), and the 1996-established English Teaching Programme, reaching more than 18,000 beneficiaries across 220+ awareness programs.

TCP operates a non-profit revenue model combining donations from individuals, grants from international conservation funders, and transactional income from nature tourism programs (principally Turtle Night Watch at Rekawa and Kosgoda). Core funding partners include UNDP GEF-SGP Sri Lanka, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Sea Turtle Inc. (USA), and UNDP Lion's Share. The organization coordinates with Sri Lankan government departments, the Central Environmental Authority (under which it has been registered since 1995), academic institutions including the Open University of Sri Lanka, and fisheries cooperatives. Technology deployment is research- and field-based rather than product- or software-based; TCP records nesting and biometric data manually and does not maintain a software product, API, or AI-driven system. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami caused over Rs. 10 million in damage to the Kosgoda office, after which TCP coordinated the UNDP/GEF tsunami recovery programme from 2005-2007.

Name

Turtle Conservation Project

Legal name

Sri Lanka Turtle Conservation Project

Website

https://sltcp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Turtle Conservation Project is a Sri Lankan non-profit NGO that protects marine turtles through community-based nest protection, mangrove restoration, alternative livelihood programs, and environmental education, serving coastal communities, schools, and ecotourists across Panadura, Kosgoda, and Rekawa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB), Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH), Sea Turtle Nesting & Hatchling Tours (regulated night walks) (THAAAIAI), Marine Wildlife & Coastal Nature Tours (Whale/Dolphin Watching, Sea Kayaking) (THAAAEAD)

Keywords

• Marine turtle conservation
• Community-based conservation
• Mangrove restoration programs
• Environmental education outreach
• Alternative livelihood development

Headquarters

HQ city

Panadura

HQ country

Sri Lanka

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropic Funding: TCP relies on donations from individuals, organizations, and grants from conservation partners. The organization maintains a donation page for public contributions.
2. Ecotourism Revenue: Income generated from nature tourism programs including Turtle Night Watch tours, guided nature walks, and eco-tourism activities led by certified community guides.
3. Grant Funding: Funding from international organizations including UNDP GEF-SGP, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (USA), Sea Turtle Inc. (USA), and other conservation partners for specific projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Turtle Conservation Project is a Sri Lankan non-profit NGO that protects marine turtles through community-based in-situ nest protection, research, and habitat restoration. Its offerings span mangrove restoration across 3,000 hectares, nature tourism (Turtle Night Watch), environmental education, and alternative livelihood development programs including batik, sewing, ornamental fish breeding, and certified tourist guide training for coastal communities.

Product overview

Turtle Conservation Project (TCP) is a Sri Lankan conservation NGO offering a portfolio of community-based marine conservation programs. The core offerings include turtle conservation with nest protection and research, mangrove restoration, and nature tourism experiences (Turtle Night Watch, bird watching, mangrove observation). Supporting these are education initiatives (workshops, school lectures, film shows), volunteer programs, alternative livelihood development (batik, sewing, fishing guides, research assistants), English teaching, community libraries, and medicinal gardens. TCP does not offer a technology product or SaaS platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Turtle Conservation Programs Community-based marine turtle conservation including nest protection, research, and habitat restoration across Sri Lanka's coastal areas. Targeted at protecting endangered sea turtle populations.
• Mangrove Restoration and Conservation Restoration and conservation of mangrove ecosystems through nursery establishment, planting, and community maintenance programs across 3,000 hectares of coastal areas in Northwestern and Eastern Sri Lanka.
• Nature Tourism Programme Sustainable nature tourism including Turtle Night Watch, bird watching, mangrove observation, coral study, and butterfly garden experiences at Rekawa and Kosgoda for eco-tourists and conservation visitors.
• In-situ Nest Protection and Research Programme Community-based marine turtle nest protection program employing former egg collectors to safeguard turtle populations at Rekawa and Kosgoda rookeries, with research and biometric data collection.
• Education and Awareness Programs Environmental education including workshops, exhibitions, school lectures, and film shows to promote marine conservation awareness among coastal communities, schools, and government agencies across Sri Lanka.
• TCP Volunteer Programme Volunteer program enabling participants to work alongside professionals in marine and coastal conservation, research, and community projects, supporting TCP's field operations.
• Alternative Livelihood Development Programs Income-generating programs including Women Batik Group, Women Sewing Group, Turtle Nest Protectors, Tourist Guides, Research Assistants, Ornamental Fish Breeding, and Home Gardens providing alternative livelihoods for coastal communities.
• English Teaching Programme Free English training for local communities to improve employment prospects and reduce reliance on environmental exploitation.
• Community Library Programme Community libraries established in Rekawa, Kalpitiya, and Kosgoda to develop skills and provide alternative income opportunities for coastal communities, with hundreds of regular library users.
• Model Medicinal Garden Programme Educational gardens teaching community members about medicinal plants while generating income through plant sales and providing vegetables, fruits, spices, timber, and firewood.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Center for Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Open University of Sri LankacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated to host 2nd International Conference on Mangroves for Sustainability 2024, exploring mangrove ecology, conservation, and management themes.
• Ceylon Bird ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for bird watching programs; trained Community Ecotourism Educators and Tour Guides (CEETs) to share avian biodiversity knowledge with visitors.
• Sri Lanka Tourist Board (Ceylon Tourist Board)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCertifies tour guides trained by TCP for nature tourism programs, providing official recognition for community guides.
• Sri Lanka Hotel SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in training local community members as certified tour guides for nature tourism program.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Peers

• World Wildlife Fund (WWF):

Broad incumbents

• Wildlife Conservation Society: Large global conservation organization operating field programs across 100+ countries including marine turtle and coastal habitat work. Broad incumbent with overlapping species and habitat focus but a much wider geographic and thematic footprint than TCP.

Direct peers

• Olive Ridley Project: Maldives and India-based NGO dedicated to the conservation of olive ridley sea turtles. Most direct regional peer to TCP — community-based marine turtle protection, research, and volunteer programs across the Indian Ocean.
• Sea Turtle Inc. Texas-based sea turtle conservation organization operating hatchery and nesting beach programs on South Padre Island. A direct peer — TCP is a co-financing partner and both focus on in-situ/ex-situ sea turtle nest protection, public education, and recovery of endangered species.
• SEE Turtles: US-based nonprofit connecting travelers with sea turtle conservation projects worldwide. Comparable volunteer/ecotourism business model that links tourists to nesting beach programs — directly overlaps with TCP's Turtle Night Watch offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sri-lanka-turtle-conservation-project

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Turtle Conservation Project