A new coffee table book on Sri Lanka’s wild cats– Phantoms of the Night, hopes to trigger public attention on these rarely spotted animals. Published on SundayTimes on 05.12.2021 https://www.sundaytimes.lk/211205/plus/lest-we-forget-these-out-of-sight-creatures-463894.html The Jungle cat:Listed as ‘near threatened’ In spite of the callous disregard for fellow animals and all the negligence and selfishness, we have not yet managed to stifle the extraordinary ...
The latest edition of Sri Lanka’s red list of native plants shows that nearly half of the assessed species are threatened with extinction, a higher number than in the previous edition from 2012.There was some good news, however, with three of the five plants assessed as extinct in 2012 being rediscovered under serendipitous circumstances.The number of critically endangered plants considered ...
Published on SundayTimes on 17.10.2021 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/211017/news/blowing-in-the-wind-silky-threads-of-flying-spiders-cause-wonder-458789.html Earlier this month, people in areas such as Hambantota and Ampara reported seeing pale string-like substances floating in the air when they happened to gaze upwards in the morning. It took no time for conspiracy theories to emerge, one being that Stealth aircraft use such string-like mechanisms to evade radar and were overflying Sri ...
Published on SundayTimes on 10.10.2021 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/211010/news/high-above-icy-peaks-a-bird-tagged-in-mannar-makes-a-heroic-flight-457810.html A common bird found in coastal Sri Lanka during the early part of the year has for the first time been tracked on its heroic flight high above the Himalayan mountains after being fitted with an electronic tag by researchers in Mannar. “The tagged brown-headed gull crossed the Himalaya range flying at an altitude ...
This is an article published in Vidusara Science Weekly on 06.10.2021. The article focuses on some of the changes that can be expected to observe in your home gardens. කාලගුණ යේ වෙනසක් නිසා පසු ගිය සති කිහිපයේ ලංකාවේ බොහෝ පළාත් වලට තද වැසි වැටුනේය. වැස්සේ සිතලයට ගුලි වී නිදන්නට ඇත්නම් අපි බොහෝ දෙනා කැමති වුවත්, වැස්ස වසින විට හා ...
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210912/news/rare-sighting-of-ocean-glider-454946.html Published on SundayTimes on 12.09.2021 A seafaring bird has been swept up into Sri Lanka amid the recent stormy weather accompanied by heavy showers. Naturalist and researcher Chandima Fernando who had observed photos he received on WhatsApp tentatively identified it as a white tern. Fernando contacted seabird expert Rex I. de Silva who confirmed the identity and it turns ...
https://www.sundaytimes.lk/210801/news/ring-around-the-sun-a-marvel-if-not-a-miracle-451156.html published on SundayTimes on 01.08.2021 Nobody knows who spotted it first but news of an iridescent ring around the sun spread faster than light on Thursday, prompting crowds to look up at the sky. There was, in fact, a large circle of light resembling a full rainbow around the sun against the backdrop of a clear sky. Solar Halo ...
https://www.sundaytimes.lk/210502/news/jaw-bomb-success-story-shines-as-wild-lanka-treasures-441942.html published on SundayTimes on 21.05.2021 WildLanka symposium is held online steered by a panel of experts operated from the DWC head office For three months, a young elephant that had its mouth blown apart with a cruel hakkapatas (explosive bait) was fed buckets of fresh juice and crushed grass through a tube inserted through a slit in its neck until its ...
Published on SundayTimes on 21.03.2021 https://www.sundaytimes.lk/210321/news/bid-to-protect-your-favourite-fish-kelawalla-but-iotc-is-tangled-in-a-net-437003.html While the Indian Ocean’s yellowfin tuna stocks are fast depleting, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission’s latest meeting ended without positive conclusions aimed at sustainable measures. The yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus Albacares), or Kelawalla as it is popularly known locally, is probably one of the most favoured fish of Sri Lankans, but little do we kno
Let science drive the solutions, president told Published on SundayTimes on 14.03.2021 https://www.sundaytimes.lk/210314/news/no-more-chasing-of-non-problem-elephants-into-wilpattu-experts-436244.html A pair of happy Wilpattu elephants enjoying a frolic in a lake. They too will suffer if more elephants get driven into the park. Pic by Namal Kamalgoda President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s offer of driving elephants away from a village area into the Wilpattu National Park has been ...
Published on SundayTimes on 21.02.2021 https://www.sundaytimes.lk/210221/news/end-silo-approach-to-marine-research-scientist-urges-433244.html It is to Sri Lanka’s credit that there are so many bodies engaged in ocean science research but it is vital that data is pooled so that the country can learn how to use marine resources without destroying them, a leading scientist said. Professor Charitha Pattiaratchi’s call comes at the start of the United ...
A recent global IUCN Red List assessment of the amphibians of Sri Lanka has highlighted that 72 of them are threatened with extinction, with 20 critically endangered. Evaluators identified the rapid loss of wet-zone cloud forests as the most immediate threat to the island’s amphibians, and highlighted three priority sites that are uniquely important for their conservation. In recent ...
Everyone is asked to stay home as a measure to slow down spread of COVID19. The situation is bad, but should we spend time glued to TV, Computer or to mobile phones browsing through the social media etc..? This is indeed a very rare opportunity that children and parents get to spent time together, so shouldn’t we use this time ...
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/200315/news/coral-dance-of-death-glowing-glowing-gone-396418.html published on SundayTimes on 15.03.2020. Sri Lanka’s foremost coral expert, Arjan Rajasuriya, recently received a call from an excited diver friend. “I’ve just gone diving and found varieties of corals that I had never seen, glowing with fluorescent colours. They looked really beautiful,” the friend said. But the news held no excitement for Mr. Rajasuriya, only sadness. “Look, ...
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/200308/news/unsung-eco-warrior-gains-long-due-protection-395606.html published on SundayTimes 08.03.2020 Vidattaltivu mangrove forest in Mannar district (c) EFL A hugely underrated eco-warrior is only now gaining national protection with the first steps being taken to safeguard existing mangrove forests and reclaim lost growth. Forest Officer Devanee Jayathilaka’s courageous stance in protecting a mangrove patch in the Negombo lagoon has brought welcome media attention to ...
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/200301/news/jaw-breakers-endangering-lives-of-children-and-pets-394590.html Published on SundayTimes on 01.03.2020 Jaw bombs used to harm elephants could also end up being a social issue, activists warn. Laura, a playful female German Shephard who suffered grievous injuries to her jaw from a hakka patas blast eventually succumbed to the injuries Children and domestic animals including pets are falling victim to the small explosive devices called ...
On World Wildlife Day next on 03rd of March, charismatic wildlife such as endangered elephants, leopards and the vulnerable sloth bear will take the stage – but one species is routinely ignored, to our peril. Diverse fish species on a common malu lella There will be protests to protect forests such as Wilpattu, Sinharaja and even mangroves. “But are ...
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/200223/news/horrifying-rise-in-jaw-bombs-brings-agonising-death-to-jumbos-393505.html Published on on SundayTimes on 23.02.2020 Playful baby elephants were half of casualties ..!! The female elephant calf was thirsty. Standing in the shallows of a water hole at dusk, it hurriedly sucked water into its trunk. It then curled its little trunk toward its mouth in an attempt to quench its thirst but there wasn’t a proper ...
