February Volunteers Share Their Experiences

April 10, 2019/0 Comments/in Brewings /by Ron Atapattu

"It’s great feeling being part of an organization that is making a difference. Would recommend this to anyone! So wonderful and hope to come back one

"It’s great feeling being part of an organization that is making a difference. Would recommend this to anyone! So wonderful and hope to come back one day." Spencer Elizabeth, Canada

Observing elephants in their natural habitat

Maria Jennings
England

I spent 2 weeks with SLWCS. I met some lovely people and had lots of fun. I enjoyed the dorms, and although there are walls, they aren’t joined to the roof, so it’s rather lovely having that gap and falling asleep and waking to the sounds of nature. The cold showers are a blessing at the end of a session of tree planting or vegetation slashing and clearing.

The Field House domestic staff can’t do enough for you, and the guides and drivers are local and therefore extremely knowledgeable about their environment and the area covered by the SLWCS. The conservation staff often defer to their knowledge and they all work extremely well as a team. I learned a great deal about wild Asian elephants, and how human/elephant conflict has untold financial, environmental and sometimes tragic consequences. SLWCS is trying to find ways to solve this problem, sometimes with innovative ideas, for example planting orange groves, as elephants hate citrus fruit and will hopefully avoid such vicinities. They are all passionate about their work, and I hope they are able to continue this necessary work for the foreseeable future.

Setting a sand trap

Electric fence monitoring

Katharina and Theresa Pesl
Austria

We just spent one week in the Fieldhouse but it was enough to make incredible new friends, to meet locals, to help the people around, to plant trees, to play a lot of cards, to eat really good food, to see elephants, learn something about them, and to had an amazing experience. It was enough but we could have stayed one more week…or two. We are really sad to leave, everybody was so nice to us, smiling all the time and they let us be part of their life. After one week, we can say that we will really miss that place and the people. Keep up with the project, we will definitely recommend it to everybody and looking forward to come again. Lot of hugs.

Matthew Jack (Jacks)
England

I spent two weeks at SLWCS. I wanted a totally different experience to what I’m used to living in the French Alps. I also wanted to help toward elephant conservation. It certainly was so different to what I’m used to and has been a wicked experience. The accommodation was great and curry everyday was awesome to someone who loves curry. I loved the elephants. And would have loved to have seen them much more but understand you won’t see them everyday as I thought you might before coming.

Everyone has been helpful and really nice bunch of people. I would have liked to have been able to go for walks etc whilst at the centre and felt a little restricted in that respect but totally understand the reasons for this i.e; gun traps etc and maybe danger from wildlife etc. I am leaving a week early and this is only due to the fact that if I don’t get the chance to come to sri lanka again then I wanted to see more of the country before I leave. That’s all. I would defiantly come again and will rave about it to my friends and encourage them to come also. Cheers

Alan Gemmell
Scotland

I spent 2 weeks with SLWCS in there Field-house. Where I met many awesome people from all over who were a great laugh and a pleasure to work alongside. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful with any issue you had. The conservation work is fun and rewarding but tiring in the heat, the field staff are very knowledgeable about their projects and wildlife. Seeing the wild elephants was definitely the highlight of my time here. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone.

Drinking a tender coconut freshly plucked from a tree

Ella Hurst and Rose Oakley
England

We’ve spent almost three weeks here and have really enjoyed it! The organization is so important; the locals really appreciate the work done by SLWCS. The staff who run the program are all so lovely, many of them grew up in the village we’ve been working in so know everything there is to know. The tasks have been engaging and diverse, from making a butterfly garden to carrying out dung analysis.

The afternoons have been spent up at the tree huts overlooking the elephant corridor which is very relaxing, you don’t always see elephants but makes seeing them even more special. The field house has incredible views, it’s so peaceful and has a very welcoming feel and the food here is really good too – it’s traditional and all freshly made. We’ve made some amazing friends and had an incredible time, we’re sad to be leaving and very grateful to all the staff who made our trip so great.

Sandra Robertson
Canada

The SLWCS is an effective, worthwhile conservation organization to support! My reason for coming was to contribute to wildlife conservation instead of a typical vacation. Also to see first hand what they are doing to conserve incredible animals like elephants, wild cats, and butterflies. The dormitory like accommodation was fun, and rustic. Meeting a variety of people from all over the world adds to the experience.

The staff are extremely knowledgeable, friendly and great to work with. Overall the experience was worthwhile, and I felt the work was meaningful. However, I was hoping for more wildlife experiences such as night drives for the wild cats we did track surveys for, bird watching, and other searches for the variety of animals that can be found here. I was fortunate to see numerous elephants and I will never forget the experience!

Viktoria Hartig and Violetta Melnitschuk
Germany

We spent two weeks with SLWCS. We enjoyed our stay and had a really great time in the field house. We met great people and had lots of fun. The work was interesting, informative and sometimes exhausting but we learned a lot about the elephants, environment of this area and the culture. The people are very friendly and the staff is attentive and helpful. The accommodation facilities are simple but we get used to it after short time. Summarizing it was a great experience and we won’t like to miss this wonderful time.

Emanuelle Rome-Jarry and Lucile Magnani
France

We spent two weeks and two days with SLWCS. It was our first experience in volunteer mission and we really enjoyed it! We learnt many things about the Sri Lankan culture, elephants and others animals. We met beautiful people and amazing staff. The food was very good but sometimes too spicy for us ! 😉
We really loved discovering the life of the people here and when we saw the elephants for the first time, it was a moment that we never forget!

Thanks to everyone who make this experience beautiful!

Annie Lejeune
Belgium

An amazing project with amazing people. I spent almost two weeks here and I have seen and done so many things. Joining this project allows me to have a better understanding of the reality, the culture and the issues of the local people and the work of the organisation. This organisation really wants that the volunteers understand each part of the work so they inform us, they come with us, they respond to every question. The work is different every morning so we learn more every day. The afternoon is free so it is the time to know better the other volunteers or the staff.

Going in the tree huts in the afternoon is nice too but you never know what is going to happened. The project concern elephant but it is possible to never see one from the tree huts. It can be disappointing but it also shows that the organisation respects the wildlife of these animals. So, these two weeks were an incredible experience full of discovering with people who care about you and about what they do.

Wendy McQuillan
USA

A wonderful experience hosted by wonderful people. Very impressed with the efforts made to reduce the elephant/human conflict. Meeting people from all over the world and working with the people of Sri Lanka were great gifts. Thanks for everything.

Marc Georg (Mace Drake)
Germany

Wow, a whole week past by so quickly. I had the luck to spend some unforgettable days here, with people who made my experience much better. I really enjoyed the times at the tree house hut where we watched out for elephants, or the morning ride in the Bus to bring the local kids to school were a great experience.

Thanks to the staff who always supported us, explained everything that we not just heard it, they really want that we understand what they are telling us. I am thankful for the time I spend with that Organisation and could be a helping hand.

Black-headed Ibis

Roger & Shirley Wales
UK

Its great to see that this project is working and helping with the human/elephant conflict.

We have met some lovely people, volunteers and staff, and enjoyed working with them, even in the butterfly garden! Seeing elephants in their natural surroundings was an experience to be treasured and one we will never forget. A huge thank you to everyone involved and we wish you all the best for the future.

Andy, Anja, Ronja and Malina Reidhauser
Switzerland

We have spent two great weeks here. We could attend many activities that would help the people in the surrounding villages to avoid conflicts with elephants. We especially liked to join the surveys where we could ask the people directly how they live with elephants that still may come every night to their houses. It is interesting that they all still love elephants, despite all the destruction.

We also enjoyed all the friendly people of the project team who made us feel like in a big family.

Sometimes we have seen elephants in the afternoon either on the tree hut or in the paddy fields. If not, we used the time for homework. Much more elephants we have seen in the Wasgamuwa National Park, it was so beautiful, so that we went there twice.

We wish all the best to this project and will be curiously following how the orange trees grow, how many butterflies come to their new home, if the fence will be improved, if the people will start to capture rain water from their roofs for dry season and how elephants and people live peacefully next to each other.

Kami Koster
USA

I spend a week here with SLWCS and really enjoyed the experience. The accommodation and food was great and we saw lots of elephants! I felt like the projects they are working on are worthwhile and its good to know the locals appreciate the help. I would definitely recommend this to a friend as it was a very unique opportunity. I will miss all the friends I met here!

Purple Swamphen

Adela Ozkan
Luxembourg

I spent a week with the SLWCS team and I would have loved to stay longer. I had a wonderful time here and learned so much about elephants and other mammals and birds of Sri Lanka. The place feels like magic and I am sure to come back sooner or later.

The project also allowed me to get to experience the life of Sri Lanka’s farmers and see places that you wouldn’t find in any travel book about the country.

The food at the field house is very good. I enjoyed every bite of it.

I am really gonna miss this place and I am already planning to come back this year to enjoy more time in this peaceful and wild place.

A cute family of Whistling Teal

Tina Stiby
UK

What an amazing experience! Thank you so much for such a fantastic week! So well organized and varied ‘work’ with such a lovely group of people (volunteers and staff) with similar feelings about wildlife and the environmental impact.

I learnt so much more about the organization and what you do and how enthusiastic everyone was. My only regret is not staying here longer, sorry, but I really hope to come back and also tell others about it all. Well Done!

Water Buffalo

Joshua and Belinda Kean
UK

Thank you so much for an incredible experience. We have learnt lots about your projects and all the good work you are doing here. Also will come away with much knowledge of wildlife and of course the elephants. Its has been the best magical experience to see them in their natural habitat…loved the tree house time.

The staff and volunteers are all lovely…we will miss everyone.

Black-headed Ibis

Spencer Elizabeth
Canada

I spent two amazing weeks with SLWCS and enjoyed my time here. The staff are so incredibly friendly and help make someone feel right at home. Their passion and knowledge on the relationship with humans and elephants is inspiring; it made this experience what it is. Seeing that really sparks interest from someone on the outside, who had no idea what to expect.

It’s great feeling being part of an organization that is making a difference. Would recommend this to anyone! So wonderful and hope to come back one day.. maybe when the orange trees have grown! Thank you all so much for everything!

Big, rumbling thanks to our Corporate Partners for their kind support and to everyone who has donated and supported our wildlife conservation efforts!
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Photo Credits:

Chathuranga Dharmarathne/SLWCS
Nisali Wijesinghe/SLWCS
Ravi Corea/SLWCS
Volunteers/SLWCS

The Elephant Health Monitoring Project

March 18, 2019/0 Comments/in Brewings /by Ron Atapattu

In Wasgamuwa, one of the main threats to wild elephants is trap guns and steel wire snares. Chandima Fernando Ecologist/GIS Specialist SLWCS Camer

In Wasgamuwa, one of the main threats to wild elephants is trap guns and steel wire snares.

This magnificent tusker died as result of a trap gun shattering its right wrist bones

Chandima Fernando
Ecologist/GIS Specialist
SLWCS

Camera trapping is one of the most effective field research methods with potential for multiple field applications. Our remote camera trapping program was first initiated for the sole purpose of studying carnivores. As time went by we realized that the camera traps were useful not only to study carnivores but also to gather information on elephants and various other fauna as well. The cameras can be used very effectively to collect information on the health of elephants, especially to identify elephants that have been seriously wounded or injured or in poor overall physical condition.

In Wasgamuwa, one of the main threats to wild elephants is trap guns and steel wire snares. There is a very interesting reason for how and why this is so. Elephants are landscape architects similar to humans in many aspects. They are truly the only other species next to humans who can alter their environment very drastically. Elephants are the road makers of the wild—they are bulldozers that create the main pathways in the forests and even in human-dominated landscapes. These paths made by elephants eventually become the main roads for practically all the other animals such as Sambhur, Axis deer, wild boar, leopard, sloth bear and even smaller animals such as civets, mongooses and mouse deer. Poachers use these paths as well to set their guns and traps and this is how elephants get injured by trap guns and snares.

Elephants create the roads in the jungle

All animals use the paths made by elephants…

…including poachers.

Poaching is epidemic in Sri Lanka and Wasgamuwa is no exception. Steel snares and trap guns are frequently set along forest paths to kill game such as sambhur, Axis deer, and wild boar. The height at which these guns are set depends on the chest height of the animal (for a lung or heart shot) the poachers are attempting to kill. So almost all of these guns are set up at 3 feet or lesser height with the lowest been for wild boar. Unfortunately elephants become collateral casualties of these traps.

Trap guns typically inflict wounds on the lower extremities of elephants’ generally on their limbs from the elbow and knee downwards unless a small calf triggers the gun. Then it could be lethal for the calf. If the home made slug goes into muscle then there is a good chance the wound will heal. But if the slug hits an artery or shatters bone then the elephant is definitely doomed. A fracture means a protracted death from infection and gangrene. Once an elephant breaks a major bone there is no chance of it ever healing. Elephants with shattered femurs, knees, ankles and wrists basically rot to their deaths, especially during the wet season, when they are highly susceptible to infection.

This elephant died from an agonizing and prolonged death from a trap gun shattering its right femur

Steel snares again are set for game such as sambhur, Axis deer and wild boar and also to catch smaller game such as mouse deer, pangolin and porcupine. These snares get entangled in the feet and trunks of elephants. As it is for other animals, the snares are not life threatening to elephants. When elephants get entangled in snares they snap the cable from its anchor and drag the cable along or sometimes manage to break it off at the knot. We have encountered several elephants inside and outside the national park dragging cables that were attached to their legs. Although they are free the cable causes a ligature that eventually cuts into the flesh and becomes embedded in the bone.

If these elephants are treated as soon they are encountered many of them can be easily saved before the snares cause mutilating injuries such as severed trunks and rupturing wounds in their limbs. Elephants with such injuries when spotted should be treated swiftly to ensure they will not suffer unnecessarily. However, the challenge is the lack of field veterinary facilities to mobilize immediately when such elephants are encountered. So tragically most of these elephants go untreated. For some with grievous injuries by the time an effort is made to treat them it is too late.

We have set up remote cameras along several major elephant paths to identify and monitor elephants injured from trap guns and snares. This information we provide the veterinarians of the Department of Wildlife Conservation immediately. Through this process we have managed to treat a number of injured elephants in Wasgamuwa.

This male elephant has sustained a trap gun wound to its left wrist

Kalum (M092YAD)

Kalum is a young male, very well built with good body condition. Unfortunately, his trunk had got trapped in a snare. While attempting to break the metal snare, it had made a deep cut and a small hole in his trunk. He is fortunate that the wound had not got infected and the lower end of the trunk below the snare did not suffer from necrosis and fall off. He has though lost the flexibility of his trunk. Further strain or injury might cause the lower end of the trunk to break off completely. We have been monitoring him very carefully. For the last two months we had not encountered him in the field, which we were concerned about. However, recently our cameras had taken videos of him in the company of several other males in the forest reserve.

Kalum with his scarred trunk

Wanni

Wanni is another young snare injured male that was captured by one of our remote cameras. He was first recorded in 2017 with his injuries. His wound is in a very bad condition. It is a gaping and infected wound. After our first encounter we tried to track him to monitor his condition and also to get an idea where he is most likely to be – but unfortunately we did not encounter him in the field that often. Once when we came across him we immediately informed the Department of Wildlife Conservation and they were able to treat him. Since then, we have not encountered him in nearly two years, and we suspect that he had succumbed to his injuries.

Wanni with its infected wound

Juvenile – unnamed

This class five juvenile we had not encountered before in the field. We observed it for the first time in 2017, and it already had its’ trunk tightly caught in a noose. The snare had got caught tightly around the middle part of the trunk. In the camera picture, the wound appeared to be very fresh. Unfortunately we have not seen him again. We are hoping we will encounter him again and the wound would’ve healed. If not we will alert the wildlife department vets to treat him.

Adult male – unidentified

This adult male was captured in one of our cameras while entering a border village. It can be clearly seen in the pictures, that the bottom part of his trunk is about to fall off. These types of injures often result in the elephant losing a part of its trunk. However, if the wound heals and infection does not set in, he would survive. We haven’t encountered him for some time now and hope our cameras will capture him sooner than later.

Kuveni – Female (FM016)

Kuveni is one of the oldest females in our area. She was spotted with this gunshot wound just above the elbow. The wildlife department veterinarians were informed and they were able to treat her. The treatment was successful in healing her wound and we encounter her on and off roaming around our research area with her family group.

Kuveni with a trap gun wound just above her right elbow

What we have learned from monitoring elephants using remote cameras is the terrible impact snares and trap guns have on elephants and other wildlife. Our cameras have so far not recorded nor have we encountered an injured sambhur, Axis deer or wild boar it can be assumed that these animals are either killed immediately or do not live for long from injuries sustained by trap guns and snares. Our remote cameras have become a very important tool for our elephant conservation efforts. We kindly request you to continue supporting our research and conservation efforts. We need to deploy more cameras and expand the areas we monitor to provide veterinary care for elephants that suffer from trap guns and snare injuries.

To support these efforts you can email us at: info@slwcs.org or make a donation through our website: https://www.slwcs.org/donate

The lower end of the trunk of this elephant is just about to fall off from a snare wound

Big, rumbling thanks to our Corporate Partners for their kind support and to everyone who has donated and supported our wildlife conservation efforts!
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Photo Credits:

Carnivore Project/SLWCS/S.P.E.C.I.E.S.E.
Chandima Fernando/SLWCS
Greener Media
Raiv Corea/SLWCS

Our First Volunteers of the Year Gives The SLWCS a Thumbs Up!

February 20, 2019/0 Comments/in Brewings /by Ron Atapattu

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“For an experience of successful and real conservation work I would 100% recommend volunteering with the SLWCS.” Matthew Shattock, Australia

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The Tree Hut Elephant Corridor where people and elephants coexist.

Savannah Soizic
France

I spent three really nice weeks, all the staff was great, really friendly they make you feel well in the field house and during the activities. I have learned so many things about elephants but also about people and Sri lankan wildlife. The life in the field house wasn’t as hard as I thought, and it’s really interesting and fun to be with the local people, to really discover the culture. All the days were different from the others and each day was really interesting, I had an amazing experience in this program, and I will enjoy to come again!!

Savannah 04

Working on the Butterfly Sanctuary

Tessa Gai
Australia

I had great experience volunteering with the SLWCS. The staff were very friendly and helpful, they were able to answer any questions I had and I learnt a lot about Sri Lankan wildlife. I also enjoyed the beautiful location of the field house. Activities including painting the school and planting orange trees in the village were very satisfying and I enjoyed interacting with the local community. Overall, I had a fun and informative week and definitely hope to come back again!

Yan (Josey) Zemin
Netherlands

The three weeks I’ve spent here were great. The field house’s location is gorgeous and the open vibe is really cool. The biggest thumbs up goes to all the staff. Very friendly and knowledgable. Even though not everyone speaks English, the language barrier doesn’t really matter. I’ve learned a lot about the wildlife here and the lives of locals. It’s an interesting way of seeing a foreign country, deep down in the countryside without tourists. Seeing an elephant (or even its presence) in the wild here is a magical experience. You can really kind of feel that they’re around.

I really like how this project helps the elephant, as well as the villagers at the same time. The staff really wants to bring the ‘natural balance’ back and the way they do it is great. The more physical activities like Project Orange Elephant are satisfying, because you can see who you’re helping and hear the stories why you’re helping. Not all activities are equally interesting, but I’ve enjoyed walking around in the small villages, paddy fields and wilderness nonetheless. I have had amazing weeks here and I’m curious to see the future projects of the Sri Lankan Wildlife Conservation Society!

Matthew Shattock
Australia

I spent two weeks with the SLWCS and was super impressed with the organization. The field house is situated in a stunning location overlooking a lake on one side, with spectacular views of the Knuckles Mountain Ranges on the other side.

The staff were friendly, knowledgable and passionate and made every activity both enjoyable and educational. For an experience of successful and real conservation work I would 100% recommend volunteering with the SLWCS.

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Anne Redburn and Alexis Scott
USA

This is a great program that truly helps to preserve wildlife in an innovative and natural way. The staff work incredibly hard to collect their research and on the maintenance of different projects.

Staff are very kind and knowledgeable and also very willing to share their knowledge with you. They are well respected by the locals and carry out their projects on a large area of the land. They are always looking for new ideas to preserve the wildlife, and the projects they’re currently working on are interesting and new. Also, the food they serve is homemade and delicious.

Caroline Mager and Brett Kerton
UK

It’s been a great experience – very satisfactory to be involved in research-focused activities. So we loved the bird monitoring, dung analysis, etc. Mahinda’s food is fantastic – great to have traditional/local cooking! Staff are all very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. The trip to the national park was excellent and very good value!

We enjoyed very much the film and the talk by Chandima after supper.

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Jenna Monroe
Alberta, Canada

Honestly I think the organization is pretty darn fantastic. Really happy I was able to see and experience the culture through the daily projects just by travelling throughout the countryside, especially the first day when we did the POE fence monitoring and were right in peoples backyards, and to truly get to see a less travelled area of Sri Lanka.

The food is fantastic, I legit looked forward to every meal. The field house is in a great location and is super relaxed, which I enjoyed and it gave us great opportunity to get to know each other. I liked the downtime mid day because its so hot that I definitely think I’d have a hard time keeping up if we were busy with activities.

I also really appreciate that its pretty disconnected, I know lots of people might complain that they’re without technology but I really liked it. I think the dynamic is perfect just the way it is. Without a doubt, I learned a ton about the project, elephant behaviour, Sri Lankan farming, etc etc. Cannot thank you guys enough for how knowledgeable and friendly everyone here is. I’ve really had fun this week. Thanks a million. Xx

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Daniel Wellman
United Kingdom of Great Britain (The Best Country in the World)

I spent one week volunteering with SLWCS and was happy with the activities and setting. SLWCS is a great organization and showcases great innovation with limited means. The group I volunteered with was fantastic, which made the experience better! The staff are really passionate and really know their stuff. The field house is unique and very different from home, and was a little bit of a challenge adapting to – but after a couple days I could relish this unique living style!

The breadth of activities was good and the work was fulfilling, although I will always wish I could’ve done more!

Juan Leandro Del Viejo Dominguez
France

Positive: decent facilities, great food, passionate people, wonderful scenery, very interesting projects (butterfly garden, elephant human conflict, EleFriendly school bus).

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Thank you for volunteering with the SLWCS!

Big, rumbling thanks to our Corporate Partners for their kind support and to everyone who has donated and supported our wildlife conservation efforts!
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Photo Credits:

Chandima Fernando/SLWCS
Akila Weerakoon/SLWCS
Ravi Corea/SLWCS

Feeding and encouraging elephants to beg on the road in Sri Lanka is vandalism committed on our wildlife!

February 12, 2019/0 Comments/in Brewings /by Ron Atapattu

"We need to take action now to stop this vandalizing of our wild." SLWCS

Vehicles would stop and allow elephants to cross without any interference or hindrance

Decades ago in Sri Lanka to encounter wild elephants on the road was an exciting and exhilarating experience. Vehicles would park at a respectful distance and watch the elephants in silence until the elephants gradually moved away from the road. It would be a rare person who would be brave enough to drive past the elephants in a car that could barely reach 20 miles/hour on those roads at the time.

Fast forward to now and the elephants on the road have become mere caricatures and an insult to their long ago majestic and awe inspiring cousins. Until a few years ago the begging elephants were almost bulls. Now even female elephants and their young have taken to begging on the roads.

There is no doubt that eventually entire herds will get used to this demeaning and disgraceful habit. Herds are already getting habituated to face such a situation. Garbage dumps which were always visited by bull elephants are now attracting herds with young calves as well. Once they get used to eating garbage it is just a small step to wait by the roadside for hand outs from vehicles. And it has started to happen.

An elephant herd crossing a road is an amazing sight to come across. As oppose to…

…begging for food by the roadside. This is a cow and its' calf. Next it would be entire herds.

Unprincipled people who are indulging in this shameful activity are basically vandalizing the wild essence and spirit of the wilderness and the wildlife of Sri Lanka. The Department of Wildlife Conservation must come up with a concise management plan and with the help of the police and military forces implement disciplinary actions to stop these vandals from destroying the wilderness and the wildlife of our country. A strict set of huge fines and penalties on the drivers of these vehicles will soon put a stop to such vandalism.

A magnificent animal is now a beggar.

This bull is shamelessly…

…begging for food.

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Let us act now to change this…

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…to this.

We need to take action now to stop this vandalizing of our wild. Please write to the government officials listed below asking them to take steps to immediately stop this disgracing of a majestic animal and turning it into a derelict symbol of our wildlife. Share this post and encourage as many people to campaign to get this feeding of wild animals by the roadside stopped immediately.

Let's request these officials to make feeding any wild animal that is not in need of succor legally categorized as vandalism and efforts made to punish severely the drivers of these vehicles. Otherwise, wild animals begging for food by the roadside could end up being the only wildlife experience and spectacle left in Sri Lanka for wildlife lovers traveling on our roads.

His Excellency President Maithripala Sirisena
President of Sri Lanka
Minister for Environment
Presidential Secretariat
Galle Face
Colombo 01
Sri Lanka
Phone: +94 112 354 354
Email: ps@presidentsoffice.lk
Tweets by ‎@MaithripalaS

Honorable Ajith Mannapperuma
State Minister for Mahaweli Development & Environment
Ministry of Mahaweli Development & Environment
"Sobadam Piyasa"
416/C/1, Robert Gunawardana Mawatha
Battaramulla
Sri Lanka
Telephone: +94-33-223-6372, +94-11-268-8749-5
Email: ajith2200@gmail.com

Honorable Ranil Wickremasinghe
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
Prime Minister's Office
No: 58, Sir Ernest De Silva Mawatha,
Colombo 07.
Sri Lanka.
+94 (112) 575317/18
+94 (112) 370737/38
Email: info@pmoffice.gov.lk

Fax: +94 (112) 575310
Fax: +94 (112) 574143

Honorable John Amaratunga
Minister for Wildlife
811/A Jayanthipura Main Rd
Battaramulla 10120
Sri Lanka
Contact Numbers:
Mobile: +94 777489999.
Phone: +94 11 234 1066, +94-11-204-5700.
Fax: +94 11 2382218
Email: info@msdw.gov.lk

Chandana Sooriyabandara
Director General
Department of Wildlife Conservation
811/A Jayanthipura Main Rd
Battaramulla 10120
Sri Lanka
Phone: +94-11-288-8585
Email: dg@dwc.gov.lk & csooriyabandara@gmail.com

Anura Dissanayake
Secretary
Ministry of Mahaweli Development & Environment
Sri Lanka
"Sobadam Piyasa"
416/C/1, Robert Gunawardana Mawatha
Battaramulla
Sri Lanka
Telephone – 0112676844
Email: sec@mahaweli.gov.lk

Anura Sathurusinghe
Conservator General
Forest Department
Sampath Paya
82 Rajamalwate Rd
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 10120
Sri Lanka
Phone: +94-11-286-6616
Email: cgfsoffice@gmail.com

What we are in danger of loosing.

Big, rumbling thanks to our Corporate Partners for their kind support and to everyone who has donated and supported our wildlife conservation efforts!
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Photo Credits:

Chandima Fernando/SLWCS
Ravi Corea/SLWCS
Internet Public Domain

The Butterfly Effect: The Sri Lanka Butterfly Conservation Project

February 8, 2019/0 Comments/in Brewings /by Ron Atapattu

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“Despite its small size, the island [of Sri Lanka] boasts 248 species of butterflies of which 31 species are endemic.” Dr. George Michael van der Poorten

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Tailed-Jay Butterfly

Forty years ago Dr. George Michael van der Poorten set out to create a butterfly haven in his property in Rambawewa, in the Northwestern Province of Sri Lanka. What Dr. van der Poorten has achieved since then cannot be described in a sentence or two…you need to write a whole set of volumes and produce a series of documentaries about it as well. But to give just a sense of it, when he started to create butterfly friendly habitats in his coconut estate there were about 20 species of butterflies present. Today there are more than 125 species!

The flutter Michael set in motion way back in time had now rippled across nearly 40 years of time and space and through a process of osmosis has resonated in two organizations, Spa Ceylon and the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS) to take up butterfly conservation. The amazing fact is, the SLWCS did not even exist at the time when through his efforts Dr. van der Poorten set a Butterfly Effect in motion.

Dr. George Michael van der Poorten, the most eminent Lepidopterist of Sri Lanka

Unknowingly but probably in response to the subtle and sublime vibes set in motion by Dr. Poorten, in 2013 the SLWCS decided to create a butterfly garden at its Field Operations Center in Wasgamuwa. However this project never got off the ground and in 2017 the Society made renewed efforts to initiate the project.

Meanwhile in 2018 independent of the SLWCS' efforts Spa Ceylon the prestigious house of luxury Ayruvedic personal and body care products had decided to sponsor a butterfly conservation project. Forty years after Dr. van der Poorten’s inspired moment to set in motion a flutter of hope for butterflies at his estate – it seems synergistic events had brought the SLWCS, Spa Ceylon and Dr. van der Poorten into a collaborative effort to save the beautiful flying jewels, the butterflies of Sri Lanka.

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Narrow-banded Blue Bottle

Crimson Rose

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An early effort in 2013 to establish a Butterfly Garden was not a success

January 18th 2019. Turning off from the main Puttalam Road we drove through the main gates of Dr. van der Poorten’s estate and headed down a long and dusty unpaved drive way. The entire area looked very dry and parched – so it was hard to believe that soon we will be in a butterfly haven when just finding a torpid grasshopper in these conditions would be a tough assignment. But we were definitely in for a huge surprise!

The closest you can to an earthly paradise…

Dr. George Michael van der Poorten is “The Butterfly Expert” or in the jargon of Zoology the most eminent Lepidopterist of Sri Lanka. While I have known about him for ages this was the first time I’m meeting him. Only yesterday I had managed to find Dr. van der Poorten’s contact information and had called him a bit hesitantly not knowing how my request for assistance would be received since it was coming out of the blue from an unknown person. I need not have worried—I was immediately invited to visit his estate the following day and provided with directions to get there. So here I am about to meet the doyen of Sri Lanka’s butterflies, Dr. George Michael van der Poorten and his equally knowledgeable and lovely wife, Nancy.

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Nancy and Michael

Spa Ceylon that had supported our Project Orange Elephant in 2017 contacted the SLWCS last year to inquire about a butterfly conservation project. As a result of the ensuing discussions, Spa Ceylon committed to support a butterfly conservation project and the reason for my visit to Dr. van der Poorten’s. It was a case of—if we are going to create a butterfly sanctuary, then this time let’s get it right from the very beginning!

02. Spa Ceylon Donation 2017

In 2017 Spa Ceylon donated to Project Orange Elephant. Shalin Balasuriya, Shiwantha Dias and Ravi Corea

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LOGO ORANGE Very Final

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Common Jezebel

Immediate we met it was hard to miss Michael’s deep passion for butterflies which radiates in every direction, and his energy and enthusiasm was boundless and infectious. Just keeping up with him was like running behind a weaving butterfly. He was the proverbial fount of knowledge, and this knowledge gushed out in torrents that I wished I had not paid attention to those long ago gender biases and learned Pittman’s shorthand. Not since my university days have I had to take down so many notes. When I look at the notes I had written – just the list of plants and trees alone was astonishing.

Michael's love and passion for butterflies was hard to miss. It was as obvious as a butterfly

Amidst all the running around, lessons and note taking there is still time for a refreshing Thambili

So many notes…

…it was like going back to university.

While I was with Michael learning and absorbing information on butterflies, Chandima, Akila, Nisali and a team of volunteers were working to prepare the land at our Wasgamuwa field center where we planned to establish the butterfly sanctuary. We couldn’t have selected a more auspicious day to initiate the project especially to have Michael provide advice and suggestions to the team over the phone as they worked.

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Akila…

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Nisali…

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Chandima impersonating a butterfly…

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and volunteers clearing weeds to create the future butterfly sanctuary

My first visit to Michael's and Nancy's would be some of my most cherished memories. The welcome and the warm and sincere hospitality that I enjoyed and the generous uninhibited sharing of knowledge, experience and even resources I received. Our Land Rover when we left looked like a veritable roving greenhouse—filled with plants, seeds, and cuttings of various species of plants and vines that provide food for caterpillars and nectar for adult butterflies. Michael’s and Nancy’s largesse was awe-inspiring and made one feel so very special. I went to get advice and maybe some suggestions and tips, but left with so much more it is hard to quantify, and most importantly knowing that our butterfly conservation project would have Michael’s and Nancy’s unstinting support and help.

Gifts of plants for our Butterfly Sanctuary

There were many avian friends as well

It was an honor and a privilege to meet Michael and Nancy

Dr. George Michael van der Poorten and Nancy van der Poorten have two recent publications on the butterflies of Sri Lanka which we highly recommend:

The Butterfly Fauna of Sri Lanka (2016)
_Field Guide to the Butterflies of Sri Lanka_ (2018)

The books are available at all leading bookshops in Colombo and online at: http://lepodonbooks.com/

Please stay alert for further updates on the progress of our Sri Lanka Butterfly Conservation Project.

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FieldGuide cover

Big, rumbling thanks to our Corporate Partners for their kind support and to everyone who has donated and supported our wildlife conservation efforts!
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Photo Credits:

Chandima Fernando/SLWCS
Indika Samapth/SLWCS
Ravi Corea/SLWCS

We are excited to announce the launching of newest conservation research initiative

January 31, 2019/0 Comments/in Brewings /by jpottsiv

The territorial waters of Sri Lanka are rich in marine species. Yet there is very little information available about Sri Lanka’s vulnerable and endangered marine ecosystems. The SLWCS’ newest research and conservation initiative, the MaRINE Project, is both critical and timely.

Charting a course for a new conservation research initiative

These are exciting times at the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society.

We are in the midst of launching several new research and conservation initiatives. Among these exciting happenings is our Butterfly Conservation Project that is being launched with the support of Spa Ceylon (watch for more information about this project) and our Marine Resource-conservation Initiative for Nature-based Enterprise better known as the MaRINE Project.

Diversity is the “Key Word” about Kalpitiya

The MaRINE Project will be based in the Kalpitiya Peninsular in the Northwestern Province in the Puttalam District. The project will focus on both brackish water and marine ecosystems in an effort to understand the synergies, correlations and codependency between these two environments to make Kalpitiya one of the most biologically diverse marine ecosystems in Sri Lanka. The Kalpitiya-Karaitive-Puttalam Coastal Wetlands Complex includes the Puttalam Lagoon, which is the largest inland brackish water body in Sri Lanka. The Puttalam Lagoon was identified as a wetland of international importance and listed in the Directory of Asian Wetlands in 1989.

This vast combined marine and lagoon ecosystem and region is home to a rich biodiversity, culture and history. The coastal waters are teeming with marine mammals, fish, marine reptiles, and crustaceans. There are bar reefs just off the coast and a chain of remote off shore islands unique in their own way. In the lagoon there are huge mud crabs, tough barramundi, quite and inoffensive dugongs, and the colorful pink dolphins and much more. Kalpitiya is critical stopover for migratory birds along the Asian Flyway and during the winter season the coastal beaches, mud flats, and lagoon is a quivering flitting flying mass of avian visitors – a birders paradise.

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Important for resident and migratory birds

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The rare Pink or Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin

Heading our MaRINE Project will be Ms. Ruvini Weerasinghe, a young scientist and graduate from the Zoology Department of the Jayawardenapura University currently reading for her M.Phil in Marine Biology. Her research includes marine biodiversity, coral reef ecology, marine chemical ecology, invasive species ecology and marine pollution. Eventually Ruvini will be joined by a team of research and field assistants, volunteers and support service staff.

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Young Marine Biologist, Ruvini who will head SLWCS MaRINE Project

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Conducting research on marine pollutants

We have set up our operations center at the Marist Nivasa in Kalpitiya – an establishment belonging to the Marist Brothers. They have a very nice facility which they have very kindly allowed us to use to initiate our field research and conservation projects and the volunteer program.

Our brand new research craft, The Dugong __is being completed at the Neil Marine Boat Yard in Thaladuwa, Negombo.

Dormitory-style rooms for our volunteers

The SLWCS research vessel, The Dugong

We have also acquired to two 15 foot canoes to use in the shallows of the lagoon to conduct research and conservation work on mangroves and various brackish water fish, crabs and other fauna that depend on the mangroves ecosystem for their survival.

Please watch out for further information on our MaRINE Project.

Our two 15 foot research Canoes

Always take the canoes for a test run before acquiring them…

Big, rumbling thanks to our Corporate Partners for their kind support and to everyone who has donated and supported our wildlife conservation efforts!
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Photo Credits:

Chinthaka Weerasinghe/SLWCS
Ravi Corea/SLWCS
Ajantha Palliyawadana (pink dolphins)

An Artist with a Passionate Love and Empathy for Elephants Leaves her Mark at the SLWCS Project Site

January 7, 2019/0 Comments/in Brewings /by jpottsiv

“Riding the EleFriendly bus was a wonderful experience, a glimpse into the daily life of people who depend upon the bus to keep their children safe. The school children, villagers and their happy energy was infectious!” Alpana Ahuja, Singapore

Alpana Ahuja is an artist and illustrator who had published 20 children’s books. Alpana lives in Singapore and regularly exhibits her art in group shows in Singapore. She had two solo exhibitions in 2014, both titled ‘Ganpati to Gajah’ to raise awareness on the plight of captive elephants in India. The proceeds from these exhibitions were donated to help the elephants rescued by Wildlife SOS India.

A unique series of paintings titled ‘Padhchinh’ were created by Alpana by taking the footprints of the rescued elephants on to canvas. These paintings sold through auctions by Wildlife SOS, USA continue to raise funds for elephants.

In 2016, Alpana did a painting of elephants called “My Family” to raise funds for the EleFriendly Bus. Prints and gift card packs of the painting raised over $2000 for the EleBus. The original painting is available for $2500 and the proceeds will go to the elephant conservation efforts of the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society.

Alpana has had a long association with ACRES, Singapore where she is involved in education, fundraising, wildlife rescue and also functions as a board member. In addition, Alpana runs an ‘Animal Lovers Club’ at a leading international school in Singapore, where children are taught many aspects of Animal Concerns.

Alpana and two friends and colleagues, Gauri Savadi and Kiran Sujanani visited the SLWCS project site in Wasgamuwa in September 24th 2018 and stayed for 4 days. These are the reminiscences of their experiences with the SLWCS.

Visiting the Camp site at Wasgamua was a dream come true for me. The pristine land surrounded by a lake, hill and forests, the simple Field House, wholesome food and eco friendly ways, all made for an unforgettable experience.

The activities gave us a taste of the hard work that researchers do. Camera traps, sand traps (discovering a sloth bear cub’s footprints was the highlight for me), fence mapping we did them all. The tree hut was exciting!

Riding the EleFriendly bus was a wonderful experience, a glimpse into the daily life of people who depend upon the bus to keep their children safe. The school children, villagers and their happy energy was infectious! It was a project that I truly believed in and contributed for. My painting ‘My Family’ raised over $2000 for this project (cards and prints of the painting were sold).
We still have the original, for a buyer who pays $2500 and the proceeds are all for SLWCS.

Lastly I loved painting the wall mural at SLWCS and leaving my mark there! I spent many happy hours in peaceful tranquility near the lotus pond taking occasional breaks to observe 3 different pairs of birds catching insects around the pond.

I wish you all the very best and hope to visit again.’

Alpana Ahuja
Artist/illustrator
Board member of ACRES
(Animal Concerns, Research and Education Society, Singapore)

I embarked on a journey from Singapore to SLWCS on the insistence of my friend Alpana. I went with no expectation. When we reached the field house at SLWCS, we were welcomed by the staff and existing volunteers.

I came here with the willing to try a volunteer experience by helping animals, but the philosophy engaged by SLWCS is even better! “Protecting wildlife while protecting the people”. Its a double whammy! The assigned morning duties and the wait and watch game at the tree hut were exciting. I say this with a satiated soul – “You people of SLWCS are all CHAMPIONS” Good Luck, onwards and upwards.”

Kiran Sujanani
Entrepreneur and animal rescue volunteer with ACRES

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Kiran, Alapana and Gaurie at the Tree Hut

SLWCS attests of us being human! All one needs is shelter, clothing, simple food and lots of love, and, this was surely reflected through all that we experienced at the abode.

To maintain the balance of the Lord’s creation-one needs to experience it!

My heartfelt thanks to each n every staff of SLWCS who provided us so much warmth. I especially needed the well-deserved let out and thanks to the dear passionate friend of ours Alpana for making this possible for us.

With hopes to contributing more, if not physically, for sure remotely. I am in awe of your beautiful country Sri Lanka and the people there, will return soon.

Good luck in all your endeavours.
God bless!”

Gauri Savadi
Principal of ‘Little Skool House’
(Early childhood education)
And animal rescue volunteer with ACRES

Big, rumbling thanks to our Corporate Partners for their kind support and to everyone who has donated and supported our wildlife conservation efforts!
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Photo Credits:

Alpana Ahuja
Kiran Sujanani
Gauri Savadi

A Wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy, Prosperous and Healthy New Year to all our Donors, Supporters, Volunteers, Friends and Well-wishers!

January 2, 2019/0 Comments/in Brewings /by jpottsiv

A Wonderful Holiday Season and A Happy, Prosperous and Healthy New Year to all our Donors, Supporters, Volunteers, Friends and Well-wishers!

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A leopard family out on a stroll…

Please give some thought to our tomorrow as you celebrate this Holiday Season and plan to welcome a brand new year!

Gratitude ~ Appreciation ~ Deep, abiding trust in good people from all around the globe! These are the warm feelings we share here at the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS) as the holiday season and the close of 2018 fast approach.

We thank YOU–our donors, volunteers, corporate and organizational sponsors and grant funders–for supporting all of our many conservation initiatives. http://www.slwcs.org/ongoing-projects

As you know, the challenge of safeguarding Sri Lanka’s wildlife is complicated and expensive, and not without struggle, sacrifice and occasional disappointment. As conservationists and wildlife lovers, our hearts are vulnerable but our will to succeed is never-ending. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

And so–with YOUR kind help–we are! THANK YOU ever so much.
May your holidays be filled with joy, peace, and the promise of a future filled with the wonders & glory of Nature.

Sincerely,

The Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society

P.S. A special jumbo thanks goes out to our generous 2018 sponsors:
elephantea, Colombo Jewellery Stores, WealthTrust Securities Limited, NABU International, Cha's Organics, Spa Ceylon, Stick no Bills and the Red Cross Society of the Royal College of Colombo.
Donations are always welcome & needed: http://www.slwcs.org/donate

May you have a wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy New Year!

Big, rumbling thanks to our Corporate Partners for their kind support and to everyone who has donated and supported our wildlife conservation efforts!
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Photo Credits:

Chandima Fernando/SLWCS
Carnivore Project/SLWCS & S.P.E.C.I.E.S.

Virus-free. www.avg.com

After ten weeks of volunteering with the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society, I couldn’t be more satisfied with my experience.

December 31, 2018/0 Comments/in Brewings /by jpottsiv

“After ten weeks of volunteering with the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society, I couldn’t be more satisfied with my experience.” Shae Erlandson, U.S.A

Ruth Cook
Switzerland

This is my second time at the project and, if anything, it was an even better experience than the last. I came here in July 2017 for the first time. It was during the dry season. Where there was supposed to be a lake, there was only a stream. This time, the lake in front of the Fieldhouse was full and I even got the chance to swim in it after being in the sun for the morning activity. Since last year, some of the staff had changed, but that is in no way a bad thing. In fact, I think I laughed even more than last time.

I also always felt safe when we were out in the field. We had a couple of close encounters with elephants during our morning activities and, whether they were close or far away, the field assistants remained calm and gave us clear indications of what we had to do. It was usually more exciting than frightening.

My favourite morning activity has to be pugmark analysis, where we usually walk through rivers and streams in search of paw prints on the banks, specifically those of fishing cats and jungle cats. It is a very refreshing activity when the temperature outside is high, which is often the case during these times. We always follow one of the field assistants, as they know the way, and it’s very funny when they walk through the river and suddenly disappear underwater because it’s too deep.

One thing is certain, I will be coming back yet again. These people have become a family in my eyes. The Fieldhouse feels like a second home. It’s a different way of life, certainly, being mostly in the middle of nowhere, away from my family, surrounded by mountains and lakes. It makes a big change from the cities back home in Switzerland. I love the rhythm of life here, as a volunteer, with a sometimes demanding morning activity and an afternoon of elephant observations (although we don’t always see elephants). The people are so friendly and the scenery is simply beautiful. I leave this place with difficulty, but I now have more wonderful memories and I can’t wait to come back and make even more.

Wassim Dassouki
Lebanon

For my first travel out of my country, I was willing to use my vacation for something useful and as an opportunity to make a difference. My friend advised me to check out this website (working abroad), its where I found project elephant conservation in Sir Lanka.

When I arrived, I was stunned by the natural beauty and the kindness of locals, the staff were very nice and comforting, which helped me not to feel like a stranger. It was the first time I have seen an elephant, which was amazing and the work towards their help was very satisfying. The food was amazing and the simplicity of the house in the middle of the nature was like a getaway from the city. I had a wonderful experience here and earned some useful information regarding elephants and some other animals.

Hoping for the program to continue successfully and making a difference.

Caitlin Sutton
New Zealand

I don’t think there are any words that can articulate or justify my experience here with the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society. I am so taken and overwhelmed by the staff who dedicate their careers and everyday lives to the elephants & people of Sri Lanka.

Julie Bjorn
Denmark

Amazing staff and great social experience. Love that focus is on wild elephants and that we are respecting their living.

Keng Tharn Hong & Marek Gorniak
Malaysia

We stayed as part of the 1 week program in SLWCS. It was a good experience as we got to learn a lot about conservation work on wildlife. It was also a good way to get to know the friendly locals. As well as immerse ourselves in the breath-taking beauty of Sri Lanka’s nature.

Philip Smith
England

All staff very friendly and knowledgeable and happy to share that knowledge
Everyone mucks in together which makes all the tasks more enjoyable.

Best bits for me were:

Elephant observations – even when the elephants are hiding the scenery is very relaxing
Meeting villagers when checking the bee fence. Very interesting to hear their experiences of elephants which often isn’t positive.
Building sand traps – I just like making things!
Trip to National Park – stunning scenery and the chance to see wild elephants close up. I did this on my final day which was a perfect finish to a really enjoyable experience.

Shae Erlandson
U.S.A.

After 10 weeks of helping out at SLWCS, I couldn’t be more satisfied with my experience. It was intimidating to leave my family and the only culture I’ve ever known for such a long time, but my fears were melted away as soon as I arrived. I was engulfed by the kindness and joy from all of the volunteers and workers, and I got lost in the work they are doing here.

I think the most amazing thing about SLWCS is that it both actively tries to make a difference in the world, while at the same time it inspires others to do so as well. The means at which they work to minimize human-elephant conflicts are creative and effective, and the way that they educate the public about the importance of what they are doing is influential and essential in actually being able to help resolve the conflicts.

It was fulfilling to be here because I got to experience a completely different way of living which made me have individual growth, and also because I was also taking part of doing something beneficial on a larger scale. Being here made me feel that change is possible, even if it is little by little, and all that you need is a small group of dedicated people who want to improve the world.

May you have a wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy New Year!

Big, rumbling thanks to our Corporate Partners for their kind support and to everyone who has donated and supported our wildlife conservation efforts!

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Photo Credits:

Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society
Jasmin Willis
Krystle Milo

Giving to protect the environment can change lives

December 4, 2018/0 Comments/in Brewings /by jpottsiv

“Please help to protect their future. By giving to protect the environment even in little ways can change the world in larger ways, especially for endangered elephants and other wildlife.” Ravi Corea, President, SLWCS

Please protect our future…

The Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society is an organization that has received several international awards and praise for the tremendous efforts it has put forth for wildlife conservation, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development in Sri Lanka. Giving to support any one of the worthwhile projects of the Society will lift your spirits, warm your heart, make you look at the world in a new way, and change your life. Please support the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society to continue to its conservation efforts in Sri Lanka to make the world a better and safer place.

The SLWCS is a fully incorporated 501c3 tax-exempt charity in the USA (verifiable through the Internal Revenue Service search for charities:http://www.irs.gov/app/pub-78/, a fully registered non-governmental organization in Sri Lanka and registered with the Central Environmental Authority of Sri Lanka as an environmental NGO.

The pangolin is one of the most relentlessly illegally hunted animals in the world.

In 2018, the Intrepid Foundation based in Australia an entity of the Intrepid Group, the global leader in sustainable travel, selected the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society and its projects to support through its responsible travel industry. The Intrepid Foundation works with local organizations around the world to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable individuals and communities through sustainable travel experiences. With their travelers’ help, the Intrepid Foundation has contributed more than AU $6 million to over 100 community organizations since 2002.

This year the Intrepid Foundation for their Christmas campaign launched the Global Gift for SLWCS program: https://globalgifts.theintrepidfoundation.org/the-gift-of-elephant-conservation

The Intrepid Foundation will match every Global Gift purchase—for example every $50 Global Gift purchased, Intrepid Foundation will make a $100 donation to SLWCS. And those who purchase a Global Gift to support the wildlife conservation projects of the SLWCS will be emailed a PDF of the card below as a gift of appreciation for your support.

Please remember that by giving to protect the environment even in little ways can change the world in larger ways.

Thank you for your continued support to our wildlife research, conservation and sustainable development efforts.

Ravi Corea
President
Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society

The gift of elephant conservation Sri Lanka

A Gift for making a Global Gift

Photo Credits:
Chandima Fernando/SLWCS
Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society

Big, rumbling thanks to our Corporate Partners for their kind support and to everyone who has donated and supported our wildlife conservation efforts!
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February Volunteers Share Their Experiences

"It’s great feeling being part of an organization that is making a difference. Would recommend this to anyone! So wonderful and hope to come back one day." Spencer Elizabeth, Canada

The Elephant Health Monitoring Project

In Wasgamuwa, one of the main threats to wild elephants is trap guns and steel wire snares.

Our First Volunteers of the Year Gives The SLWCS a Thumbs Up!

“For an experience of successful and real conservation work I would 100% recommend volunteering with the SLWCS.” Matthew Shattock, Australia

Feeding and encouraging elephants to beg on the road in Sri Lanka is vandalism committed on our wildlife!

"We need to take action now to stop this vandalizing of our wild." SLWCS

The Butterfly Effect: The Sri Lanka Butterfly Conservation Project

“Despite its small size, the island [of Sri Lanka] boasts 248 species of butterflies of which 31 species are endemic.” Dr. George Michael van der Poorten

We are excited to announce the launching of newest conservation research initiative

The territorial waters of Sri Lanka are rich in marine species. Yet there is very little information available about Sri Lanka’s vulnerable and endangered marine ecosystems. The SLWCS’ newest research and conservation initiative, the MaRINE Project, is both critical and timely.

An Artist with a Passionate Love and Empathy for Elephants Leaves her Mark at the SLWCS Project Site

“Riding the EleFriendly bus was a wonderful experience, a glimpse into the daily life of people who depend upon the bus to keep their children safe. The school children, villagers and their happy energy was infectious!” Alpana Ahuja, Singapore

A Wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy, Prosperous and Healthy New Year to all our Donors, Supporters, Volunteers, Friends and Well-wishers!

A Wonderful Holiday Season and A Happy, Prosperous and Healthy New Year to all our Donors, Supporters, Volunteers, Friends and Well-wishers!

Please give some thought to our tomorrow as you celebrate this Holiday Season and plan to welcome a brand new year!

After ten weeks of volunteering with the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society, I couldn’t be more satisfied with my experience.

“After ten weeks of volunteering with the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society, I couldn’t be more satisfied with my experience.” Shae Erlandson, U.S.A

Giving to protect the environment can change lives

“Please help to protect their future. By giving to protect the environment even in little ways can change the world in larger ways, especially for endangered elephants and other wildlife.” Ravi Corea, President, SLWCS

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