Wild Yala goes live on the world wide web

Tuesday, 11 March 2014 03:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Official website for Yala debuts; Wildlife Department on an ambitious drive to improve parks Yalasrilanka.lk, the official website for Yala National Park, was launched by the Department of Wildlife to coincide with the first-ever World Wildlife Day. The in-depth, one-stop info and conservation catalyst on the cutting-edge of web technology was launched by Minister of Wildlife Resources Conservation Gamini Vijith Vijayamuni Zoysa at a special event to mark Wildlife Day. Standing out is the website’s multi-faceted strategy of providing everything a visitor requires while preparing him to be a responsible tourist.

Yalasrilanka.lk’s design approach brings in line the world’s best websites in wildlife tourism, taking visitors through a fascinating journey that brings them up close and personal with the park while inspiring them to be ‘green’ tourists who’d be prepared for their adventure. Yalasrilanka.lk offers an inside look at Sri Lanka’s most famous wildlife park with authentic facts and photography while also bringing service providers like hotels, safari jeeps, lodges, etc., into a well-planned nexus of facilitators. The site is also linked to a special social media page that allows visitors to share their experiences and create a dialogue that promotes responsible tourism while highlighting problem areas which would bring the Wildlife Department into the equation. “Yalasrilanka.lk fills a long-felt void and is an important part of our quest in creating a well-managed park system that serves people well while helping safeguard wildlife,” said Zoysa. Yalasrilanka.lk is done in association with The 7th Frontier, a respected marcom agency already known for its internationally-acclaimed initiatives in wildlife tourism. “What we need is right partnerships that serve the country well and this is the first step in creating a wildlife portal that offers a single gateway to all of our parks,” said H.D. Ratnayake, Director General of Wildlife Resources Conservation Department. Maverick brand strategist and media professional Dinesh Watawana says that www.yalasrilanka.lk will set in motion an ambitious plan that would bring Yala National Park to the cutting-edge as a well-run park that prides itself in conservation while offering visitors a great experience. This calls for a partnership between the department and the private sector as the Government sees a collective effort in tackling a hugely challenging task. Animal welfare, habitat conservation, visitor management, route and infrastructure development, sound controls and development of trackers are among areas the department hopes to enhance and Watawana believes that new partnership should go a long way in creating a win-win situation for both man and the wild.