Kelonia

Kelonia at Saint-Leu occupies the buildings of a turtle farm that raised green turtles commercially until the trade was ended, and it now works the other way: a research and rescue centre with large seawater tanks holding injured and confiscated animals, a rehabilitation programme, and a museum covering the biology of sea turtles and their long relationship with people in the Indian Ocean. Feeding and care sessions are open to visitors.

What's there

• The rehabilitation tanks - injured and confiscated turtles being treated for release.
• The museum - the biology of sea turtles and their history in the Indian Ocean.
• The former farm - the buildings of the commercial operation the centre replaced.
• The feeding sessions - scheduled care and feeding open to visitors.

When to go

Year round; it is largely under cover and works in any weather. Feeding sessions run at set times. School holidays are busiest.

Good to know

The animals here are injured or confiscated, so the population changes and the tanks are not always full. The site is small and two hours covers it. Entry is expensive for the size.

Nearby

Saint-Leu is around it, and Stella Matutina is south.

Key facts