Helen, Tharushi and Manike have all migrated from Rekawa, Sri Lanka's first Turtle Sanctuary, directly to South and South East Asia's first marine park, the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve! 

The Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve was established by the Government of India and the State of Tamil Nadu in 1989 and was the first marine protected area to be declared in South and South East Asia. The Reserve consists of a chain of 21 islets lying off Tamil Nadu on the southeast coast of India between 8º 45' N and 9º 25' N and 78º 05' E and 79º 30' E and covers approximately 10,500 km².

The Reserve harbours marine biodiversity of global significance and is renowned for its coral reef, sea grass and algal communities. These habitats provide excellent foraging habitat for marine turtles and green, olive ridley, hawksbill, loggerhead and leatherback turtles have all been recorded there. The islets and coastal buffer zone also include beaches, estuaries, salt marshes, mangroves and tropical dry broadleaf forests.

The Reserve is managed by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, but as part of the conservation initiatives in the Reserve, a Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust (GOMBRT) has been established. The Trust is prioritising the support of community-based management initiatives such as community-based seaweed horticulture that flourishes in the Reserve.

To find out more about the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve click here.