“This is what we call ‘Donkey doing dog’s job’… Both dog’s inaction and donkey’s action is questionable - Roshan Wevita“ Since the news spread that Yala’s tusker Gemunu is shot; lots of concerned wildlife enthusiasts have been commented on the issue through Social Media Channels. “Sri Lankan Wildlife” Facebook group has been a center of discussion, but these comments will soon ...
By Malaka Rodrigo The “hot” news in the wildlife circuit last week was that a female tusker had been spotted in the Yala National Park. Only male Asian elephants have tusks, and only a small percentage of male Asian elephants have tusks. So the reported sighting of a “female elephant with tusks” has naturally caused a stir, sparking debate ...
The tragic killing of another black leopard highlights the need for greater conservation - By Malaka Rodrigo Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Jungle Book’ refers to a black panther, Bagheera. This was really a black leopard and even though Badheera was fictitious, black leopards do exist. But are their days numbered in Sri Lanka, is the question that many wildlife enthusiasts pose. Brutal end: ...
Those who give snacks to National Park animals are encouraging a dangerous practice, writes Malaka Rodrigo Along the Thanamalwila Road, bordering the Udawalawe National Park unfolds a unique relationship between Wild Elephants and People who feeds them. Teasing and Touching these jumbos can bring dangerous repercussions, warns the experts. Local visitors and tourists are unwittingly encouraging a potentially lethal habit ...
The Yala National Park will be closed for one month from today (01st of September) onward. Closing of the Yala National Park at the height of the drought has been the usual practice, however it was not followed during the last few years. In 2007 when the park was closed for the drought, the LTTE attacked the park and it ...
In the soft dawn of a New Year, a sweet sound will steal your heart For the many preparing to see in 2014 to the booming sound of rock bands and firecrackers the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka has a counter-proposal: welcome the dawn of the New Year to the sweet sound of the dawn chorus. Birds are nature’s ...
The over-fished Thresher Shark, , has come under special protection with a Government ban on the exploitation of the threatened Fish. The ban came into effect with a July 25 amendment to the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act. Shark expert with a dead Thresher Shark at Negombo fish market The ban states that“no person shall catch Thresher Shark species of ...
A mini zoo in Battaramulla is among government’s plan for entertaining CHOGM visitors according to the Botanical Gardens and Public Recreation Ministry. The mini zoo will be set up on a 3.5 acre plot of bare land adjacent to the Folk Arts Centre (Jana Kala Kendraya) in Battaramulla where a model Sri Lankan village showcasing the country’s cultural heritage will be ...
Increased ‘monkey-attacks’ highlight the problem of human-monkey relationships and the futility of translocation of ‘pest monkeys’, warn primatolagists – by Malaka Rodrigo Hard on the heels of the yet unsolved ‘grease yaka’ attacks, are reports of increased attacks by monkeys from several parts of the country. The latest was at the Yala National Park [...]
An epic rescue mission this week to save a sloth bear screaming in pain from a poacher’s wire trap stands in glad contrast to news of threatened species – such as the recent case of a black leopard – being killed by poachers. The sloth bear was first spotted by a villager in his chena in the Aliwala area of Sithulpawwa ...
Last week, this blog reported about mass influx of Dragonflies that usually occurs in this period of time. This week, the fishermen got a bumper harvest from fish aggravate in coastal waters..!! Reports from East coast indicated that the fish has come to areas near shore giving bumper harvest Malu, Malu, Malu: Thousands of fish were washed ashore yesterday due ...
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 ...
Imported destructive agrochemicals make way for home grown solutions that are eco friendly and harmless – by Malaka Rodrigo The harmful impact of misuse and overuse of agrochemicals have been highlighted in articles published in the Sunday Times in the past few weeks. As an alternative, use of bio-fertilisers which is a method of directly applying living microorganisms such as ...
Relaxing laws could boomerang in the long term, say environmentalists The Government’s decision to allow sand transport without any need for a licence has been temporarily put on hold as it has been deemed a violation of the provisions of the Mines and Minerals Act. The existing provisions on sand transport had been lifted by a special Cabinet decision taken ...
The birds are back and one of the earliest migratory visitors to Sri Lanka away from the harsh winters in the north is the Blue-Tailed Bee-Eater, point out Ornithologists. These birds leave their breeding grounds mainly in northern India and settle down here in various parts of the country, even in our home gardens. As its name implies the bird’s ...
Relaxing laws could boomerang in the long term, say environmentalists The Government’s decision to allow sand transport without any need for a licence has been temporarily put on hold as it has been deemed a violation of the provisions of the Mines and Minerals Act. The existing provisions on sand transport had been lifted by a special Cabinet decision taken ...
Decorations adorn many buildings at Vesak – but the staff of an office in Dehiwela found a special decoration covering one of their 6th floor The curtain of bees covering the Dehiwela office building window windows: a close look revealed it was a swarm of bees spread like a curtain across a part of a large glass window. The bees ...
Last hideout of shy herd that survives by being elusive – Malaka Rodrigo Scientists are finding evidence of possible changes in evolution among elephants roaming Sri Pada with a chance to examine the body of an elephant found in the area in the first such sighting. The body was found last week (June 26) in the periphery of the Laxapana Tea ...
By Malaka Rodrigo from Sigiriya Last year, there were reports that the giant bee hives of Sigiriya had been removed by authorities using various chemicals or local exorcism rites, or shanthi karma. A series of bee attacks on visitors to this world heritage site last year gave rise to these speculations, but the Sigiriya bees are back again this ...
Horton Plains is one of the country’s most spectacular natural landscapes. Enormous grasslands edging the unique cloud forest, the surrounding mountain ranges and wildlife unique to the area make it a dream location for every photographer. With the aim of improving amateur skills on covering the beauty of the misty plains, a special field Photographic Workshop was recently organized by ...
