Make conservation a habit, rather than responsibility
Nipuni Wimalapala
National freshwater fish survey |
They were a different group in the classroom. While others worried
about studies and dedicated themselves to the Advanced Level
examination, that group was working on another project. It happened in a
classroom of Richmond College, Galle, in 1993. Madura de Silva and his
seven desperately wanted to initiate a project to protect animals and
nature.
However their effort was successful which resulted in creating
Wildlife Conservation Society in Galle in 1993 in collaboration with
Maritime Museum in Galle. The society is registered in Central
Environmental Authority under the registration number 6/6/17/30.
The main objective of the society is to create interest for wildlife
in Sri Lanka especially among schoolchildren and general public through
concerned dedication to conserve prevailing wildlife in the country.
“To achieve these objectives, the society has made untiring efforts
through the conduction of exhibitions, lectures, excursions and many
more community-based programmes in many parts of the country. The
society mainly works
closely with University Academics, Governmental and
Non-Governmental Organizations, foreign experts etc, giving its services
in the way of expert knowledge, field guidance and assistance, stressed
the society’s president Madura de Silva.
According to de Silva, during the course of years the members have
gathered vast experience and knowledge in conservation methods of
bio-diversity. They are now suitably qualified to work on affiliated
research programmes. They have now established their own project office
at Galle with sufficient facilities for research. The society has been
an equal partner in a number of collaborative research projects assisted
form Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Department, National
Maritime Museum, National Museum, University of Ruhuna and the Open
University of Sri Lanka.
Video documentary of primates |
During the last decade, members of the society had made pioneering
research and have been able discover several new fauna species, thus
making a tremendous contribution to bio-diversity knowledge. The members
have also been successful in rediscovering species which were considered
as extinct. Furthermore they have discovered some threatened restricted
species in new locations where they have not been recorded before.
They have achieved some objectives. The Society has contributed to
discover new species from southern Sri Lanka such as Bufor noellerti,
Ramanella nagaoi, Ceylonthelphusa kandambyi, Ceylonthelphusa sentosa,
Perbrinckia nana and Pastilla. The society has also been able to get
permission from the Galle Municipality to establish an education centre
inside a rainforest called Hiyare. In this centre the society conducts
its own research programs, and especially educational programmes to
address the requirements of the villagers, general public of the
surrounding areas and most importantly schoolchildren in southern
province.
Researchers observing |
In this centre the society maintains a mini library, which has a
large variety of books on bio-diversity and equipment such as
binoculars, headlamps, compasses, magnifying glasses, microscope and
portable solar power unit that may become necessary in fieldwork. At
present schoolchildren, university students, schoolteachers, the public
and foreigners use these facilities during their visits to the centre.
The society also conducts lectures, slide shows, workshop and other
educational programs within the rainforest.
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“We had conducted conservation projects to increase the population of
some rare animals group, for instance an in situ breeding program for
phytotelm microhylid frog Ramanella nagaoi. This was the first in Sri
Lanka,” said de Silva. According to de Silva, apart from the above
mentioned things, there were some other past projects which they have
done. One of them is preparation of colourful poster on the dragon flies
in the low land wet zone of Sri Lanka to promote the dragonfly
conservation under the society’s species conservation programme,
establishment of plant nursery to distribute plants for post tsunami
rehabilitation projects and reforestation projects. 185,000 plants were
distributed under this and six satellite community plants nurseries have
also been established under this initiative. A comprehensive
biodiversity assessment of the lowland rainforests in Matara district
was conducted for biodiversity secretariat of the Ministry of
Environment and Natural Resources.
Breeding Centre and Terrariums |
Large numbers of in-house education programmes have been conducted
since 2007 to educate the school children on conservation. 169
environmental education programmes were conducted to enhance the
environmental awareness among the younger generation. This is done with
the volunteer support of the members of the society.
They have also established a breeding centre for freshwater fish and
amphibians. Animal rescue programme has been completed. The society has
conducted a snake bite programme for medical staff and members of the
Sri Lanka Red Cross Society of Matale, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa
districts to increase the awareness of snake bites and to decrease snake
bites.
Madura de Silva, M M Bahir, Lakmal Attanayake and Hasantha
Abeysundara are the active members who handle the administration and
many other volunteers and school students are involved in the work very
enthusiastically.
Look after animals and enjoy the beauty of nature. Make conservation
a habit rather than a responsibility. We are creatures of nature and it
is our prime charge to protect it. Wildlife Conservation Society is the
best example to follow. |