WNPS January lecture on Sri Lanka’s Sloth Bear

Saturday, 17 January 2015 04:19 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Wildlife & Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka monthly lecture for January 2015 is titled ‘The Sloth Bear in Sri Lanka: Past, Present and Future’ (covers the taxonomy, distribution, ecology and conservation) and will be delivered by Ranil P. Nanayakkara on Thursday 22 January at 6:15 p.m. Nanayakkara is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Kelaniya and is well known across the world as an environmentalist who conducts original ground breaking research in to the fauna of Sri Lanka, both terrestrial as well as marine. This pioneering research has resulted in the discovery of a human face sized tarantula spider, entirely new to the world of science, now named Poecilotheria rajaei.

His contribution to scientific research and publications count up to more than 30, all published in international peer reviewed journals. Additionally he has authored several books and contributed scientific papers along with photos of rare fauna, to cutting edge publications. Currently serving as a regional member (Indian Ocean) of the IUCN Sirenia Specialist Group, he has also served as an expert reviewer for spiders and mammals for the IUCN Redlist of 2012. He serves as a Consultant to several conservation organisations. A Co-Founder of BEAR ( Biodiversity Education And Research) he conducts research on the less studied species of Sri Lanka, viz., bats, spiders, volant and non-volant small mammals. Additionally he conducts original research in to the dugong, the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin and beaked whales. His current research focuses on the sloth bear of Sri Lanka, one of the least studied and most misunderstood large mammals of Sri Lanka. The lecture will delivered at the Department of Meteorology Auditorium, 383, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7 (opposite BMICH). All are welcome and entrance is free.