Click on map below to enlarge.
UPDATE 14.03.07: After leaving Rekawa, Manike migrated to Hare Island, where Helen resides, then Talalari Island where Tharushi lives, and her last good position shows her heading towards Appa Island. We last heard from her on the 11.11.06 (inaccurate, so not plotted)?
of Seaturtle.org
Manike was the 4th satellite tagged turtle to be released from Sri Lanka and was tagged after at least her 4th nest of the 2006 season. Her name means My Dear and is also a generic word for gem in Sinhala. Manike was released with much pomp and ceremony by no less than 2 Honourable Government Ministers during the official declaration of Rekawa Beach as Sri Lanka's first gazetted Turtle Sanctuary. Her release was captured by a mass of local media and a BBC Natural History Unit film crew. Manike's tag was supported by the Norwegian travel company Hurtigruten. Manike nested once more at Rekawa on the 22.08.06 before starting her post-nesting migration.
Manike is released on Relawa beach by Hon. Mr. Chamal Rajapaksa, MP Minister of Agriculture Development (in purple shirt) and Hon. Mr Mahinda Amaraweera, MP Deputy Minister of Urban Development & Water Supply (in pale shirt) with TCP Leader Thushan Kapurusinghe (in between, in pale blue shirt) to mark the declaration of Rekawa beach as the country's first Wildlife Sanctuary for marine turtles.
