http://www.sundaytimes.lk/191201/news/let-it-be-free-in-our-waters-380211.html published on 01.12.2019 and http://www.sundaytimes.lk/191124/news/lost-elephant-seal-pup-closely-guarded-on-unique-visit-379334.html on 24.11.2019 The southern elephant seal pup spotted at Unawatuna a fortnight ago continued to resurface off adjacent beaches: it was seen resting on rocks at Midigama on November 23, near Polwathumodara bridge in Weligama on the 26th and on successive days at Ahangama, Dewata in Galle and Mahamoda
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/191201/plus/lester-presents-brush-with-birds-379757.html Published on SundayTimes on 01.12.2019 Well known wildlife artist and leading naturalist Lester Perera is getting ready for his next exhibition, ‘Brush with Birds – the frozen moments from the wild’. About 50 paintings using mixed media, pen and ink, watercolour and acrylic on canvas would be featured covering raptors, shore birds, forest birds including the birds that are ...
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/191124/magazine/young-eyes-on-nature-379123.html published on SundayTimes on 24.11.2019 “Young Eye on Nature” the annual wildlife photography exhibition and “Kin Wild” the annual wildlife arts exhibition by the Young Zoologists Association (YZA) will be held on November 28, 29 and 30 at the J.D.A. Perera Art Gallery, Colombo 7. ‘Kin Wild’ -the exhibition of wildlife paintings and sketches is the longest running wildlife ...
Published on Mongabay on 26.11.2019 https://news.mongabay.com/2019/11/elephant-seal-native-to-antarctica-spotted-for-first-time-in-tropical-sri-lanka/ A juvenile southern elephant seal from the Antarctic region was recently spotted off Sri Lanka’s southern coast. The seal appeared exhausted, and while there have been calls to capture it to assess its health and/or raise it in captivity, experts recommend leaving it alone and giving it time to find its way back home. ...
“Wildlife photography shouldn’t be about the ego that is attached to it. It isn’t about the equipment we use, or how many more animals we see compared to others. It is about our connection with nature” – these words truly echo through the pages of ‘Symphony of Serendib’ – the coffeetable book to be launched by wildlife photographer Erich ...
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/191117/news/butterfly-boom-sees-crowds-of-yellow-visitors-suddenly-appear-378447.html Published on SundayTimes on 17.11.2019 A swarm of Lemon Emigrants (c) Dr.Michael van der Poorten Sri Lanka is experiencing a butterfly boom these days with even suburbs of congested cities such as Colombo seeing an increase in the fluttering visitors. Many of them belong to the yellow Lemon Emigrant (Catopsilia pomona) species that traditionally begin a seasonal movement at ...
Published on SundayTimes on 27.10.2019 The possibility of mass migratoin of dragonflies across Sri Lanka was first published by SundayTimes on 2011. It is believed the same phenomena reported last Sunday. Not only birds, but dragonflies too are found to be migrating long distances. The sudden increase of dragonflies in some areas of colombo suggest their annual mass migration happened ...
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/191020/news/expect-thousands-of-dual-citizens-at-election-time-374099.html published on 20.10.2019 on SundayTimes While the dual citizenship of presidential election candidates has been a hotly-debated topic in the political arena, it is expected that thousands of other “dual citizens” will be in Sri Lanka by election day in November. Exhausted Indian Pitta found fallen on 28.10.2018. Pix by Sarath N. Senanayake Some of them are eligible for ...
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190929/news/experts-assess-sri-lankan-species-for-global-red-list-370638.html published on SundayTimes on 29.09.2019 Sri Lanka’s reptile experts gathered last week to assess the latest threat levels facing the country’s lizards and snakes. The group of experts that participated at the recent workshop During a six-day workshop at the Simpson’s Forest Hotel, they used some of the modern techniques to assess the threat levels these species have been ...
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/191103/news/study-will-help-protect-anteater-targeted-by-smugglers-376253.html published on SUndayTimes on 03.11.2019 Dr. Priyan Perera A new study has taken the first step in Sri Lanka to shed light on an elusive, solitary mammal that is the world’s most trafficked mammal. Last year, a live pangolin was rescued from a freezer in Chinese restaurant in Colombo, and the year before that, attempts to smuggle 130kg of ...
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/191013/news/alarm-over-decline-in-anuradhapura-orchid-population-call-to-protect-native-beauties-372890.html published on 13.10.2019 The Anuradhapura orchid – Vanda Tessellata — is Sri Lanka’s most heavily traded indigenous orchid species but over the past two decades its population has been on the decline, an expert has raised alarm. A rare color variety of Anuradhapura Orchid (c) Samantha Gunasekera Vanda Tessellata is an indigenous orchid species found in the dry and ...
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/191013/news/young-researchers-explain-sights-and-sounds-of-lankan-bats-372898.html published on SundayTimes on 13.10.2019 As fans celebrated well-loved cartoon character Batman’s 80th birthday worldwide, two young Sri Lankan researchers say bats are master pathfinders and get at their prey by using echolocation which involves emitting sound and then analysing the reflected sonar signal captured through special sensors. The Sunday Times met the two researchers at the Association of
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190922/news/lankas-biodiversity-a-global-heritage-asia-pacific-scientists-urge-govt-to-intensify-conservation-efforts-369502.html published on SundayTimes on 22.09.2019 Tropical biologists and conservation scientists representing 29 countries have appealed to the Sri Lankan government to redouble its efforts to protect the country’s unique biodiversity which they describe as a global heritage. Prof. Nimal Gunatilleke The tropical biologists and scientists were in Sri Lanka to atte
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/191006/news/sea-level-rising-is-real-lanka-urged-to-take-urgent-measures-to-avert-disasters-371918.html published on SundayTimes on 06.10.2019 As new global reports issue fresh warning on the impact of global warming on our oceans, how vulnerable is Sri Lanka, especially in view of it being ranked second among countries facing extreme weather patterns due to climate change? With the sea level rising, the erosion of our beaches will become worse In 2004, the ...
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190915/news/snake-specialist-charmed-by-the-attention-368310.html published on SundayTimes on 15.09.2019 Dr. Anslem de Silva has been honored as the ‘Father of Modern Herpetology in Sri Lanka’ at a global gathering of scientists studying tropical biodiversity. The one-time magician has generated more than 450 publications during 50 years and inspired almost all the next generation herpetologists of the country. Dr. de Silva was felicitated on September ...
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190929/news/climate-change-has-struck-a-chord-with-lankans-although-we-havent-taken-to-the-streets-activists-370734.html Published on SundayTimes on 29.09.2019 This week saw a global wave of protests in many parts of the world with hundreds and thousands of youth and adults taking to the streets holding placards and shouting slogans. They all had a common cause–demanding action to tackle climate change. This global movement, Climate Strike, was initiated last year by a Swedish ...
Though a global biodiversity hotspot with high endemism, Sri Lanka’s wildlife tourism is driven by a select group of “charismatic” species, including the Asian elephant, leopard, sloth bear, blue whale and sperm whale, none of which are endemic to the island. Sri Lanka still relies on conservation paradigms set decades ago, aimed at protecting these high-profile animals, but experts ...
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190922/news/unusual-coloured-snake-turned-out-to-be-common-wolf-snake-369563.html Published on SundayTimes on 22.09.2019 A snake found in the premises of a temple in Hikkaduwa earlier this week, had residents and even experts in a quandary initially, with news reports of the discovery of an unidentified snake. Hikkaduwa Wildlife Department officials said when the snake was handed over to them, there was even speculation that it might have ...
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190915/news/snake-specialist-charmed-by-the-attention-368310.html Published on SundayTimes on 15.09.2019 WildLanka is the annual symposium of the Department of Wildlife Conservation that brings together wildlife researchers and administrators of the country. All keynote speeches were delivered by experts from other fields – one was an ICT expert, while the other two are engineers. Chandana Sooriyabandara – the DG of Wildlife DWC head Chandana Sooriyabandara at ...
