Wildlife and Nature Protection Society monthly lecture to focus on human-crocodile conflict

Human-crocodile conflict will be the focus of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society’s monthly lecture scheduled for 16 June at 6 p.m. at the Met department Auditorium, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7.

The presentation by specialist on the subject Dinal J.S. Samarasinghe will focus mainly on the current situation of the human-crocodile conflict in Sri Lanka with a descriptive introduction to the island’s two species of crocodiles and their identification. Various aspects of their biology, physiology and their importance in its ecosystem will be covered along with a discussion on implementing pragmatic solutions to counter the conflict. 

Dinal is a member of numerous societies including the Young Zoologists’ Association, Sri Lanka Association of Anthropology, and also a member of three IUCN/ Species Survival Commission specialist groups (crocodiles, amphibians and monitor lizards). He currently conducts his research under the umbrella of the Environmental (Guaranteed) Foundation Ltd. 

Currently his research focus is on human-animal conflict mitigation and large carnivore ecology in Sri Lanka.

In 2012 Dinal initiated an extensive three-phase study assessing the human-crocodile conflict in the Nilwala River, Sri Lanka. Working closely with the local community and policy makers he studied the background, history and social perspective of the conflict between humans and crocodiles. Several short-term and long-term solutions were proposed and implemented following the end of the project. He continues to work on the conflict in several areas in the island and monitoring populations of crocodiles inside and outside protected area in Sri Lanka.

Over the last eight years he has conducted research on anuran bioacoustics, south Asian varanid taxonomy and has also taken part and led several biodiversity surveys in vulnerable forests across Sri Lanka.