Friday, February 1, 2013

Oligodon sublineatus (Pulli dath katiya)Rescue and Release


Recued this Oligodon sublineatus (Dumeril's kukri snake)  (Non venomous and Endemic)- with our FWCRE team member Madupa Hewapathiranage

Research project-01 -Distribution Pattern and Abundance of Reptiles in an Urban Forest in the Central Hills of Sri Lanka.

"Udawattha Kele Sanctuary,is situated in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is a secondary Urban forest, declared a sanctuary in 1938 and vested with the Forest Department. This forest ecosystem is known to harbor a rich reptile fauna. The present study was carried out to inventory the species and to understand their distribution patterns and Abundance. Sampling began in September 2011 and continued to December 2011. Forty randomly located 10×10m plots were sampled in undisturbed upper (Epipremnum aureum absent), undisturbed lower (Epipremnum aureum present), naturally disturbed (eroded) and an abandoned single species Mesua ferrea plantation equally and the wet litter mass (kg), litter depth (cm), percentage canopy and ground cover, number of fallen logs/plot, soil pH, soil moisture, soil temperature, atmospheric temperature and number of individuals/m2 were recorded. 

Twenty one species of terrestrial and arboreal reptiles were recorded in plots, including 13 species of snakes, three gekkonids, three scincids and two agamids of which 57% were endemic to Sri Lanka.Species distribution and habitat were positively correlated with the terrestrial and arboreal abundance of reptiles. Twenty species of reptiles were observed at undisturbed sites, while disturbed sites supported five species and only two species were present in plantation sites. The highest diversity of 2.637(H’-Shannon), species richness of 4.963(DMg –Margalef) and abundance of 0.51/m2 were observed at undisturbed lower sites. Assemblage composition was high in those sites compared to disturbed and M.ferrea plantation sites. Soil moisture, wet litter mass, litter depth, number of fallen logs/plot, canopy cover and ground cover were significantly positive (P<0.001) predictors of presence of reptiles and their diversity, richness and abundance. 

In contrast, the M.ferrea plantation had the lowest diversity of 0.376(H’-Shannon), species richness of 0.480(DMg –Margalef) and abundance of 0.08/m2 among the sites. So, there is an adverse effect on reptile faunal diversity and its abundance by large areas of single-species plantations in UdawatthaKele Sanctuary. Natural disturbances such as erosion also have a negative impact on its reptile diversity of 1.465(H’-Shannon), richness of 1.82 (DMg –Margalef) and abundance of 0.09/m2 compared to undisturbed sites. Furthermore,increasing populations of Sus scrofa affinis and Macaca sinica has became a potential threat for their abundance. The importance of maintaining the urban forest ecosystem and its biodiversity to conserve and to preserve the reptile fauna in this urban forest is highlighted. "


                           FWCRE member  Jaliya Roshan, young naturalist from Ranabima Royal Collage ,Kandy measuring the temperature
   on the site
 Magnificent Hump nose lizard which is Endemic to Sri Lanka


                                                                   Green Pit Viper


Publication Link 01-

Distribution Pattern and Abundance of Reptiles in an Urban Forest in the Central Hills of Sri Lanka

Publication Link 02-
Conservation of Reptile fauna of an Urban forest in Central hills

We would like to acknowledge and extend  our  heartfelt gratitude to Dr.Madhava Meegaskumbura ,Dr.sudharma Yatigammana & Prof.K.B Ranawana.we also thank  Mr.Thilina De Silva ,Mrs.Buddika Perera ,Mr.Damian Ramond,Mr.Madupa Hewapathiranage,Mr.Charuka Watthegedara,Technical staff officers of the department of zoology of University of Peradeniya and the Forest department officers of Udawatthakele for thier contribution.

Education progaramme at Udawatthakele conservation center -with juniors of Trinty collage,Kandy

       Butterflies of Sri Lanka. presenter-Mr.Waruna Agalawattha,Dept.of Zoology,University of Peradeniya
 Reptiles of Udawatthkele and Guide to Ampibians of Udawatthakele .Presenter -Ms. Santhushya Hewapathiranage,Dept.of Zoology,University of Peradeniya
         Mushroom Diversity of Udawaththakele -Presenter Mr.Charuka Watthegedara-Naturalist
                                                         Field Observations

We thank the officers of  conservation center in Udawatthakele and Trinty collage for Organizing this event.

From a Saloon to 'Udawaththa Kale' ~ 3 Rescued Wolf Snakes



three  wolf snakes are been recued while they are trapped in saloon building they were to be killed when we found them.Luckily we were able to rescue them and release in to the wild with our team members Madupa Hewapathiranage,Lahiru Malshan Dissanayaka and Mr.Eranga

November 4, 2011-A Bad Day for a Green Pit Viper

Green pit viper -(severely damaged his lower jaw,and chopped a part of his head including right eye)


This green pit viper (Endemic to sri lanka) has been hurt ( severely damaged his lower jaw,and chopped a part of his head including his eye..) by a villager or some one near by the forest (or in)and released it to the frost(udawaththa kale) Now luckily he is in vet-pera ,thanks alot anil ayya for taking him there..

PLEASE JUST DON'T BEAT,HURT SNAKES..THEY ALSO DO HAVE A RIGHT TO LIVE..AS WE ALL DO.