Terms and Conditions

1. About Ahungalla Sea Turtle Conservation Project

Ahungalla Sea Turtle Conservation Project is a local sea turtle conservation initiative based in Ahungalla, Sri Lanka.

Our work focuses on sea turtle conservation, responsible volunteering, visitor education, beach cleaning, awareness, turtle care support, ethical donation programs, and responsible tourism.

Contact Details

Ahungalla Sea Turtle Conservation Project
Location: Ahungalla, Sri Lanka
Phone / WhatsApp: 077 226 6888
Email: info@ahungallaseaturtles.com

2. Use of This Website

This website is provided to share information about our project, conservation work, volunteer programs, project visits, donations, birthday donation gifts, and responsible sea turtle conservation in Sri Lanka.

You agree to use this website only for lawful, respectful, and genuine purposes.

You Must Not

Use the website for false or misleading enquiries
Submit incorrect personal information
Copy website content without permission
Use the website for spam or harmful activity
Attempt to damage, hack, or disrupt the website
Use the project name, images, or content without approval
Misrepresent your connection with the project

We reserve the right to refuse communication, remove access, or take action where website use is abusive, misleading, harmful, or unlawful.

3. Website Information

We try to keep all website information accurate and updated. However, project activities, volunteer availability, visit times, donation options, pricing, and program details may change.

Sea turtle conservation depends on nature, weather, seasons, safety conditions, and project needs. Therefore, some information may change without prior notice.

The content on this website is for general information only and should not be considered legal, medical, veterinary, or professional conservation advice.

4. Volunteer Program Terms

Volunteers who join Ahungalla Sea Turtle Conservation Project must follow project rules, safety guidance, responsible conservation practices, and instructions given by the local team.

Volunteer Participation

By joining the volunteer program, you understand that:

Volunteer activities depend on project needs
Turtle activity cannot be guaranteed
Hatchling releases cannot be guaranteed
Some days may involve cleaning, maintenance, education, or preparation work
All turtle related activities must follow project guidance
The welfare of sea turtles comes first at all times
You must behave respectfully toward the team, visitors, community, and wildlife

Volunteer Duties May Include

Beach cleaning
Project cleaning and maintenance
Visitor education support
Awareness activities
Simple record keeping
Turtle care support where appropriate
Project preparation work
Learning sessions
Responsible conservation support

The exact tasks may change daily.

5. Volunteer Eligibility

Volunteers may be accepted based on project availability, suitability, safety, age, health, and program requirements.

We reserve the right to accept, decline, or cancel volunteer participation if needed.

Volunteers Must

Provide accurate information
Follow project rules
Respect wildlife and local culture
Act responsibly and safely
Avoid harmful behaviour
Follow staff instructions
Inform the team of any important health or safety concerns
Have suitable travel insurance where appropriate

Volunteers under 18 years old may require permission from a parent, guardian, school, university, or approved group leader.

6. Volunteer Safety

Volunteering may involve outdoor work, beach cleaning, warm weather, physical activity, animals, water areas, and local travel.

Volunteers participate at their own risk and are responsible for their own personal safety, travel arrangements, health, insurance, and belongings unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Volunteers Should

Wear suitable clothing
Use sun protection
Drink enough water
Follow beach and ocean safety guidance
Avoid handling animals without permission
Use care when cleaning beaches
Inform the team about health concerns
Respect local conditions and community rules

Ahungalla Sea Turtle Conservation Project will take reasonable care to guide volunteers, but we are not responsible for injuries, illness, accidents, delays, travel issues, lost items, or personal decisions outside our control.

7. Project Visit Terms

Visitors are welcome by prior arrangement.

A visit to Ahungalla Sea Turtle Conservation Project is an educational experience. It is not a guaranteed turtle release show or entertainment activity.

Visitors Understand That

Sea turtle activity depends on nature
Baby turtles cannot be guaranteed
Turtle releases cannot be guaranteed
Some areas may be restricted
Visitors must follow project guidance
Photos may be limited in sensitive areas
Turtle welfare comes before visitor expectations

We reserve the right to refuse entry or ask visitors to leave if they behave irresponsibly, disturb animals, ignore staff instructions, or create safety concerns.

8. Responsible Conservation Rules

All volunteers, visitors, donors, and participants must respect our responsible conservation rules.

These Rules Include

Do not touch turtles unless clearly guided by the team
Do not pick up hatchlings for photos
Do not disturb nesting turtles
Do not use flash photography around turtles
Do not make loud noise near turtle care areas
Do not enter restricted areas without permission
Do not request staged turtle releases
Do not treat turtles as entertainment
Do not litter on the beach or project premises
Always follow project staff instructions

Failure to follow these rules may result in removal from the project without refund.

9. Hatchling Release Policy

Ahungalla Sea Turtle Conservation Project does not sell baby turtle releases as tourist entertainment.

Hatchling release depends on natural hatching time, nesting season, weather, beach safety, project guidance, and turtle welfare.

We Do Not Guarantee

Baby turtle releases
Exact date releases
Birthday date releases
Personal release activities
Release photos or videos
Visitor participation in releases
Volunteer participation in releases

If hatchlings are naturally ready and conditions are safe, the project team will handle the release responsibly.

Turtle welfare always comes first.

10. Birthday Turtle Protection Gift Terms

The Birthday Turtle Protection Gift is a donation based conservation gift.

It is not a purchase of a turtle, ownership of a turtle, or guaranteed baby turtle release.

By Making a Birthday Donation, You Understand That

Your donation supports conservation work
A digital certificate may be provided as a thank you
The certificate is symbolic
No turtle is owned by the donor or birthday person
No release is guaranteed on the birthday date
Photos, videos, or updates may not always be available
Hatchling release depends on nature and safety conditions

We reserve the right to update donation packages, certificate designs, and supporter benefits at any time.

11. Donations

Donations help support the project’s conservation related activities, including turtle care support, beach cleaning, education, awareness, volunteer support, project maintenance, and responsible conservation work.

Donation Use May Include

Sea turtle care support
Beach cleaning supplies
Project maintenance
Visitor education
Volunteer support
Awareness programs
Responsible release support when nature allows
Future project improvements
Operational costs connected to conservation work

Unless clearly agreed in writing, donations are used at the project’s discretion for conservation and project support needs.

12. Donation Refunds

Donations are usually non refundable because they support ongoing conservation work.

However, if a donation was made by mistake or there is a clear payment error, please contact us as soon as possible.

Refund requests will be reviewed case by case.

Birthday donation certificates, once prepared and issued, may not be refundable unless there is a clear mistake from our side.

13. Payments and Fees

Volunteer fees, visit fees, donation packages, transport support, accommodation support, or other charges may be shared with you before confirmation where applicable.

All prices, packages, and inclusions may change based on availability, project needs, exchange rates, accommodation options, group size, season, and other practical factors.

A booking, volunteer placement, visit, or donation may only be confirmed after required payment or confirmation steps are completed.

14. Cancellations and Changes

Project visits, volunteer programs, group visits, or activities may be changed or cancelled due to weather, safety concerns, turtle welfare, project needs, illness, staff availability, government regulations, natural conditions, or other reasons beyond our control.

We will try to communicate changes clearly where possible.

We Are Not Responsible For

Flight changes
Travel delays
Weather disruptions
Illness or personal emergencies
Government restrictions
Natural events
Transport delays
Missed activities due to late arrival
No turtle activity during a visit or volunteer stay

15. Accommodation and Transport Support

Where requested, we may help suggest or arrange accommodation, meals, airport transfers, or local transport support.

Unless clearly stated, accommodation and transport may be provided by third party service providers.

We are not responsible for the actions, delays, pricing, availability, service quality, or policies of third party accommodation or transport providers.

Volunteers and visitors should confirm all inclusions and conditions before booking.

16. Health, Medical, and Travel Insurance

Volunteers and visitors are responsible for their own health, medical needs, travel insurance, medication, vaccinations, and travel preparation.

We strongly recommend that international volunteers and visitors have suitable travel insurance.

If you have health concerns, allergies, dietary needs, physical limitations, or medical conditions that may affect your participation, please inform us before joining.

We are not responsible for medical expenses, travel insurance claims, illness, injury, or personal health issues.

18. Personal Belongings

Visitors and volunteers are responsible for their personal belongings.

Ahungalla Sea Turtle Conservation Project is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal items, including phones, cameras, passports, money, jewellery, clothing, bags, or electronic devices.

Please keep your belongings safe at all times.

18. Photography and Media

Photos and videos may be allowed where appropriate, but must always follow project rules.

Photography Rules

No flash photography around turtles
No photos that disturb turtles
No picking up turtles or hatchlings for photos
No staged turtle content
No misleading social media posts
No photography in restricted areas without permission
Always ask the team before close turtle photos

We may use photos, videos, testimonials, or reviews shared by volunteers, visitors, or donors for project awareness, website content, social media, or promotional purposes only when permission has been given or the content has been clearly shared for that purpose.

If you would like a photo or testimonial removed from our platforms, please contact us and we will review the request.

19. Social Media and Public Content

Volunteers and visitors are welcome to share their experience responsibly.

However, any content shared publicly should respect wildlife, the local team, other visitors, and project values.

You Must Not Post Content That

Encourages turtle handling
Promotes staged turtle releases
Misrepresents the project
Shows restricted areas without permission
Disrespects staff, visitors, or local people
Damages the project’s reputation with false information
Uses project images or branding for commercial purposes without permission

We reserve the right to request removal of content that is misleading, harmful, unethical, or damaging.

20. Intellectual Property

All website content, text, images, logos, designs, page layouts, certificates, project names, and project materials belong to Ahungalla Sea Turtle Conservation Project unless otherwise stated.

You may not copy, reproduce, edit, distribute, sell, or use our content for commercial purposes without written permission.

You may share website links for awareness, education, volunteering, or donation purposes.

21. Third Party Links

Our website may include links to third party websites, payment platforms, social media pages, accommodation providers, transport providers, or partner services.

We are not responsible for the content, privacy policies, security, pricing, or services of third party websites or providers.

You should review their terms and policies before using their services.

22. Limitation of Liability

Ahungalla Sea Turtle Conservation Project aims to provide a safe, responsible, and meaningful conservation experience. However, participation in visits, volunteering, beach cleaning, travel, and outdoor activities carries some level of risk.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Ahungalla Sea Turtle Conservation Project is not responsible for:

Injury, illness, or accidents
Loss or damage to personal belongings
Travel delays or cancellations
Weather related changes
Missed activities
Lack of turtle activity
Third party service issues
Emotional disappointment due to no hatchling release
Changes in project activities
Losses caused by inaccurate information provided by visitors or volunteers

Your participation is voluntary and at your own risk.

23. Refusal of Service

We reserve the right to refuse enquiries, bookings, visits, donations, volunteer applications, or participation where we believe there is a risk to turtles, visitors, volunteers, staff, the project, or the local community.

We may refuse or cancel participation if a person:

Disrespects wildlife
Ignores staff instructions
Acts aggressively or irresponsibly
Provides false information
Breaks project rules
Creates safety concerns
Misuses the project name or content
Promotes unethical wildlife behaviour

24. Privacy

Your personal information is handled according to our Privacy Policy.

Please read our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, store, and protect personal information related to enquiries, volunteering, visits, donations, birthday certificates, photos, and communication.

25. Force Majeure

We are not responsible for delays, cancellations, changes, or failure to provide services caused by events beyond our reasonable control.

These may include:

Bad weather
Natural disasters
Ocean or beach safety issues
Illness or emergencies
Government restrictions
Transport disruptions
Power or internet failures
Project safety concerns
Wildlife welfare concerns
Unexpected local conditions

In such cases, we will try to manage the situation responsibly and communicate where possible.

26. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time.

Any changes will be published on this page with the updated date. Continued use of the website or participation in project activities after updates means you accept the updated Terms and Conditions.

27. Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions are intended to be governed by the laws of Sri Lanka, unless otherwise required by applicable law.

Any disputes should first be handled through good faith communication with Ahungalla Sea Turtle Conservation Project.

For final legal use, we recommend reviewing this page with a qualified legal professional in Sri Lanka.

28. Contact Us About These Terms

If you have any questions about these Terms and Conditions, please contact us.

Ahungalla Sea Turtle Conservation Project
Phone / WhatsApp: 077 226 6888
Email: info@ahungallaseaturtles.com
Location: Ahungalla, Sri Lanka