‘Lords of the Wild’: An exhibition on diverse wildlife

Friday, 7 June 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Dhanushka Fonseka

Biodiversity is the rich variety of life on earth. It is nature’s unique design and comprises of interconnections with the different types of flora and fauna estimated at 10 million plant and animal species that share the planet with us. No one animal or plant exists in isolation – not even us and the disappearance of just one endemic species can have a cascading if not catastrophic effect on the ecosystem it belongs to.

Every species alive today is a survivor over millennia, changing and adapting to its surroundings. These are the ‘Lords of the Wild’, unique creatures that contribute in their own way to maintain a healthy ecosystem; which is the bedrock of the very air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink.

The national parks, sanctuaries and reserves in Sri Lanka alone provide a haven for elephant, bear, leopard, deer, over 400 species of birds, many of whom are endemic to the country, and many other rarely encountered flora and fauna that keep the balance of nature.

Today an increasing number of plant and animal species on the planet are on the brink of extinction due to climate change, poaching, logging, pollution and man’s destructive actions. We have the power, and the moral duty to protect and conserve them for our future and the future of the planet.

This exhibition focuses on diverse wildlife from different continents of the world with a special emphasis on wildlife conservation for future generations. All proceeds from sale of the photographs will be directed towards wildlife conservation projects under the Wildlife Aid Foundation; a not-for-profit company I founded with the sole intention of protecting the flora and fauna of Sri Lanka. The photographs are from my private collection taken from encounters in the wild over the last decades. Most are from the wilds of Sri Lanka, India and Kenya.

This has further fuelled my passion for wildlife, enabling me to become a strong voice for the voiceless. The exhibition will be held on 8 and 9 June at the Lionel Wendt Exhibition Gallery from 10 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.

During my excursions in the wild, I’ve learnt patience leads to opportunity, unpredictability of behaviour and opportunities to capture an unforgettable moment in time. Eye contact with my animal subjects has personalised some of my captures and reels us into the animal’s world. My intention has also been to trigger the viewers’ appreciation of the beauty and grace of our wildlife and the importance of their contribution to the world we live in.

I envision a world with diverse and abundant wildlife and I am dedicated to ensuring that the species on the verge of extinction aren’t lost but are protected and flourish well into the future. There is however a grave need to create more awareness of our fast disappearing wildlife as a result of our negative impact on our biodiversity.

It is my fervent hope that this photography exhibition would remind the public of the beauty and distinctiveness of our fragile biodiversity and the measures needed to protect and conserve our flora and fauna for generations to come.