Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Friday, April 10, 2015
Building of an Artificial Incubation Pen at the Sea Turtle Project ,Benthota with a dedicated volunteering team from U.O.P
2015 March
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This was done under the supervison of the senior Lecture Prof.Rupika Rajakaruna of the Department of Zoology,University of peradeniya.
Team- Dr.Rupika Rajakaruna ,Mr.Sanjeewa Karunarathne,Mr.Sanjaya Jayarathne,Mr.Nuwan Karunarathne,Mr.Dias,Miss Vishvapali Kobbekaduwa and Me (Santhushya Hewapathiranage)
Project -04 EX-situ conservation practice on Sea Turtles with proper scientific practice and Research (on going)
From 2015 February
In order to prevent this circumstance and to conserve the sea turtles, several hatcheries are opened in the coasts and are been maintained by locals without any scientific guidance. So, their contribution towards conservation of sea turtles is highly debated. This project is involved with several research objectives which will finally contribute the scientific community on sea turtle conservation biology and also to educate the hatchery people with a proper scientific knowledge.
Only a scientifically managed hatchery can effectively recoup the vast number of these endangered sea turtles' eggs and hatchlings that would otherwise be lost to poachers and natural cases such as erosion.
We appriciate the financial assistance given by the Research Grant of University of Peradeniya. (RG/2014/40/S)
A Baby hatchling came out from a nest to sea the light of the life
I was preparing an artificial nest for
reburial of the Olive ridley sea turtle eggs safely.
(with temprature data loggers to mesure the nest temperatures)
Released Hatchlings
Sea Turtle
populations are risked at all stages of their lives, both from natural and
human pressures and all species of sea turtle are globally endangered. In
southern western coasts of Sri Lanka a high number of sea turtle nesting is
occur thorough out the year. But unfortunately, Eggs are
still eaten or sold by the local communities in some nesting areas.
In order to prevent this circumstance and to conserve the sea turtles, several hatcheries are opened in the coasts and are been maintained by locals without any scientific guidance. So, their contribution towards conservation of sea turtles is highly debated. This project is involved with several research objectives which will finally contribute the scientific community on sea turtle conservation biology and also to educate the hatchery people with a proper scientific knowledge.
Only a scientifically managed hatchery can effectively recoup the vast number of these endangered sea turtles' eggs and hatchlings that would otherwise be lost to poachers and natural cases such as erosion.
This research project is supervised by
Prof. Rupika Rajakaruna, Department of Zoology, University of Peradeniya and
practiced in 'Sea turtle Project', Bentota, Sri Lanka.
We appriciate the financial assistance given by the Research Grant of University of Peradeniya. (RG/2014/40/S)
Friday, January 30, 2015
Some of the Rescue ,Treat and Release work from 2014
Oligodon arnensis with a fungal infection
Under the treatments
Getting better after the treatments
Conducting a Reptile corner at IDEA EXPO 2014 Science Exhibition
Educating the general Public and school children on Reptiles and the value of Conserving them for the ecosystem stability.
During Conference Presentations :)
2012-2013
17th International Forestry and Environmental Symposium,2012 Sri Lanka
Conference on Herpetologycal Conservation and Biology,2012 Sri lanka
STUDENT CONFERENCE ON CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2013- BANGALORE
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Project - 03 Effects of Urbanization on spatial distribution,threats and conservation of freshwater fishes,freshwater molluscs and Odonates in Mahaoya,Sri Lanka
April 2013
The Maha Oya is one of Sri Lanka’s largest perennial rivers providing invaluable ecosystem services during its 130 kilometer journey from Nawalapitiya through Aranayake to reach the Indian Ocean at Kochchikade. It supports a diverse range of ecosystems that include riverine, coastal and estuarine environments.
Maha Oya is seriously threatened due to various human activities. Sand and clay mining and industrial pollution are leading causes of degradation and the river and its fragile ecosystems are severely affected. Unregulated sand mining destabilizes the environment. Why? Because when sand is extracted from the river faster than the natural rates of replenishment, it becomes unsustainable for the dependent ecosystems. This is the reason why sand mining on rivers has been banned altogether in some places.
During this project we ,group of Undergraduate students ,Studied the effects of urbanization on it's associated Fauna Both vertebrates and invertebrates which are sensitive to Environmental changes,along with an Urbanization gradient.
we were able to identify 32 species of fishes,30 speceis of Odonates and Five species of Freshwater Molluscs.There was a significant reduction of the species diverity and abundance along the urbanization gradient.and it was signified by highly varied physical and chemical parameters, which are Total dissolved solids,Conductivity,dissolved oxygen,Nitrate,Phosphate and CaCO3 levels.
The Maha Oya is one of Sri Lanka’s largest perennial rivers providing invaluable ecosystem services during its 130 kilometer journey from Nawalapitiya through Aranayake to reach the Indian Ocean at Kochchikade. It supports a diverse range of ecosystems that include riverine, coastal and estuarine environments.
Maha Oya is seriously threatened due to various human activities. Sand and clay mining and industrial pollution are leading causes of degradation and the river and its fragile ecosystems are severely affected. Unregulated sand mining destabilizes the environment. Why? Because when sand is extracted from the river faster than the natural rates of replenishment, it becomes unsustainable for the dependent ecosystems. This is the reason why sand mining on rivers has been banned altogether in some places.
During this project we ,group of Undergraduate students ,Studied the effects of urbanization on it's associated Fauna Both vertebrates and invertebrates which are sensitive to Environmental changes,along with an Urbanization gradient.
we were able to identify 32 species of fishes,30 speceis of Odonates and Five species of Freshwater Molluscs.There was a significant reduction of the species diverity and abundance along the urbanization gradient.and it was signified by highly varied physical and chemical parameters, which are Total dissolved solids,Conductivity,dissolved oxygen,Nitrate,Phosphate and CaCO3 levels.
Our team with helpful village kids at Rambukkana station
Flying Barb
Banded Mountain Loach
Crimson Dropwing
Indigo Dropwing
Yellow waxtail Mating
Oriental Scarlet
Publication link 01 - Effects of Urbanization on spatial distribution,threats and conservation of freshwater fishes in Mahaoya,Sri Lanka
Publication Link 02 - Pollution Driven by Urbanization, Pressures the Odonate distribution in Maha oya, Sri Lanka
Publication Link 02 - Pollution Driven by Urbanization, Pressures the Odonate distribution in Maha oya, Sri Lanka
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