WNPS monthly lecture on ‘Sri Pada, a local herpetofauna hotspot’ today

Thursday, 22 May 2014 00:24 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Waruni Paranagamage The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka (WNPS) will hold its monthly lecture today (22 May), titled ‘Sri Pada, a local herpetofauna hotspot’. President of the Herpetological Foundation of Sri Lanka and well-known herpetologist L.J Mendis Wickramasinghe will speak on the topic. He has over 20 years of field research experience on the herpetofauna of the island. The lecture will be held at 6:15 p.m. at The Department of Meteorology in Colombo 7. Attached to the Sri Lanka program of the International Union for Conversation of Nature (IUCN), Wickramasinghe has been an ecologist for nearly six years from 2000-2006, during which period he was involved as a herpetologist in over eight major biodiversity surveys carried out in wetland and terrestrial ecosystems. He is a member of the Experts Committee on Herpetofauna in Sri Lanka, under the National Species Conservation Advisory Group (NSCAG). He is also a member of IUCN/SSC, Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG) and the Crocodile Specialist Group (CSG). Currently he is an Advisor to the committee on the Central Highland Natural World Heritage Site UNESCO (Ministry of Environment), Consulting Herpetologist at the National Zoological Garden Hambantota Safari Park Project and Consulting Herpetologist Expert – National Zoological Gardens, Dehiwala. Through his research work he has discovered and introduced 20 new species of reptiles and amphibians to the global scientific knowledge base and rediscovered three amphibian species that were considered to be extinct. Today he will share his experiences, knowledge and ideas on herpetofauna on Sri Pada as a local herpetofauna hotspot with the audience. The organisers request nature lovers to participate in the event in order to receive valuable experience and knowledge from an expert. Entrance is free of charge.

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