Steady urbanization has created significant obstacles for delicate ecosystems and their occupants. Usually, wildlife suffers the most from careless urbanization. For example, in Sri Lanka, conflicts between humans and leopards have grown in recent years due to habitat fragmentation and encroachment, as well as territorial expansion by humans into leopard-dominated areas. August 1st was designated “Sri Lanka Leopard Day” in an effort to raise awareness of the need to protect the Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya). More research is being done to understand the connections between leopards and humans and reduce conflict in an increasingly shared ecosystem as conservationists continue to emphasize the significance of this charismatic keystone species.

The struggle and strain for territory

Dr. Sriyanie Miththapala is a conservation biologist who has extensively studied leopards and holds a PhD in “Genetic and Morphological variation in the leopard (Panthera pardus).” She has been instrumental in raising public awareness of the significance of protecting Sri Lankan leopards. She stated in her remarks that leopards are significant in Sri Lanka because, as top predators, they have a significant impact on the ecosystems in which they reside. “Ecosystems cannot function properly without them because they cause disruptions to the links that keep the ecosystem in balance. This therefore has an impact on the services that ecosystems offer to us as people.
Regarding the increasing rivalry for territory, Dr. Miththapala mentioned that there is a tiny region of secluded terrain where leopards exist outside of protected zones. In one square kilometer, there are more than 330 individuals living here. There will therefore always be conflict and struggle over a certain use of land. Thus, we have an easy decision to make. We shall suffer the loss of ecosystem services that are vital to our survival if the extinction of leopards is permitted in Sri Lanka. Alternatively, we may learn to coexist and live with them,” she continued.

Leopards: A treasure of the country

It is well known that leopards maintain ecological equilibrium by distributing prey across a range of habitats. As the top predator in the food chain, they thus serve a crucial function. Veteran Asian elephant researcher and conservationist Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya remarked, “Leopers can alter how a whole habitat functions through their impact on the species below them in the food chain.” “Such a species can upset the balance of an ecosystem and have an irreversible effect on the ecosystems they live in if it becomes extinct.”

In spite of initiatives to increase awareness among people coexisting with leopards, particularly in the estate industry, Dr. Pilapitiya thinks much more work has to be done. “The quantity of leopards in the hill region that get trapped in snares has decreased as a result of the work of conservation NGOs and leopard researchers. However, more must be done. “Zero leopard deaths/injuries due to snares” should be our goal within the next five years. In order for this to occur, there needs to be a significant increase in public and local understanding that eating bush meat is unhealthy because many snares are set up to catch deer and wild pigs rather than specifically target leopards. Our leopards will be safer if the demand for bushmeat is decreased.

He also pleaded with tourists visiting Yala, Wilpattu, and Kumana National Parks not to gather around leopard sightings in order to avoid disturbing the animals. The speaker cited a study carried out in Thailand that was published in the journal “Mammalian Biology” in 2016. The study indicated that the presence of humans can modify the movement patterns and behavior of leopards.

Every day, a large number of tourists visit Sri Lankan national parks to observe wildlife. Yala is one of the best and most popular destinations for wildlife watching in Sri Lanka, and the majority of wildlife enthusiasts who arrive on the island choose Yala for their safari. However, it has had a negatuve impact on wild animals. Overtourism has behavioral repercussions and may have a negative influence on a leopard’s ability to survive, reproduce, and maintain good health. At the moment, crowds of tourists and safari cars are overcrowding Yala and Wilpattu, intimidating leopards by encircling them. Kumana is getting to be a very crowded park. Regretfully, the authorities do little or nothing to put an end to this kind of behavior.

Even though safari jeep drivers are commonly held responsible for this behavior, he expressed his strong belief that park visitors—particularly self-described “wildlife photographers”—should exercise greater responsibility and make sure that leopards are not bothered by people congregating around them.

A distinct subspecies

Wildlife organizations emphasized the need for corporate sector participation in conservation efforts when the human-leopard conflict in the nation worsened in recent years. A major national conglomerate, LOLC, and the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) collaborated in 2021 to build a multi-regional monitoring system for the conservation of leopards. According to wildlife conservationists, there are currently nine subspecies of leopards worldwide, and there is debate over whether there should be eight since two of them—the Amur and North Chinese leopards—are found in the Russian highlands. There will only be eight subspecies of leopards in the world if that occurs. Panthera pardus pardus is the only subspecies of leopard found throughout the African continent; Panthera pardus fusca is the only subspecies found in India and the Indian subcontinent. In that regard, Sri Lanka, a small island nation, is home to a unique subspecies that is native to the region. This is unique since, in addition to the snow leopard found in highland regions, other big cats include the tiger, lion, jaguar, and leopard. The fact that we have an indigenous subspecies of leopards in Sri Lanka is a significant achievement among them. Because of the leopard’s unique status and scarcity in Sri Lanka, witnessing and observing one of these animals is increasingly valuable.

Uncommon sightings for travelers

Due to its rarity, seeing a Sri Lankan leopard is the top goal for most visitors to a national park. Travel itinerary packages for visitors to the nation must include a visit to a national park. The fact that the leopard is the only apex predator in Sri Lanka adds even more unique qualities to the leopard. In Africa, the African lion lives in regions where leopards are also present. In India, tigers and lions can be found in the northern regions of the country. Because leopards are nocturnal animals, they are hard to spot. Therefore, from the standpoint of tourism, Sri Lanka is the only location where you may witness leopards moving about during the day, where they are at ease, and where you can view them in their natural environments. You must, therefore, give them space. They are a species that readily adapts to tourist cars. This is what we have observed in Horton Plains, Wilpattu, and Yala. If they are not subjected to harassment, assault, or molestation, they will portray themselves as a tourist attraction.

Conscientiousness in Wildlife Photography

According to conservationists, the presence of large groups in national parks may cause disturbances to migratory, mating, and feeding routines. “In rare circumstances, the stress and disturbance may result in higher death rates and poorer reproductive success.”
Amateur wildlife photographers have been fighting with each other to get the best picture of a leopard lately. This author remembers an event at Kala Wewa where a bunch of photographers dove into the water to get the best picture of the famous tusker “Barana,” but they managed to prevent the animal from approaching the water for a considerable amount of time.
Conservationists opine that it is imperative that visitors and fans adopt ethical techniques due to the detrimental effects of hype photography. The following are some suggestions:
Steer Clear of Congested Areas: It’s advisable to stay away from bringing more people to a site that is already seeing a spike in visitation as a result of a sighting of wildlife. This lessens stress on the animals and minimizes harm to the ecosystem.

Comply with Park Rules: It’s important to abide by the guidelines established by the park’s management. This includes staying on approved routes, keeping a safe distance from animals, and refraining from feeding wildlife.
Educate and Advocate: Make use of your influence to spread awareness of the value of ethical wildlife photography. Promote eco-friendly tourism strategies that put the welfare of wildlife and the environment first.
Choose Lesser-Known Sites: During peak tourism seasons, consider visiting lesser-known locations that provide comparable wildlife encounters without the corresponding throngs of people.

Looking out for a “native child” in Sri Lanka

The primary goals of the WNPS and LOLC Multi-Regional Leopard Research and Conservation Project are to promote human-leopard coexistence outside of Sri Lanka’s protected areas and to investigate leopard populations in landscapes dominated by humans. We are currently in our third year of research. Speaking about its development, Prof. Enoka Kudavidanage, a conservation biology expert and the project’s principal investigator, stated that during the previous two years, they gathered a lot of data and created an information database. “To that end, we set up research centers in strategically significant geographic areas. Kilinochchi, Sigiriya, Panama, Kotagala, Belihul Oya, and Kalawana are among the regions. We have established a network of individuals that includes Grama Niladhari (GN), forest department officials, wildlife officers, and so on.

According to her, the purpose of the surveys was to gather basic data on things like whether or not there are leopards in each GN division, how much human-leopard interaction there is, whether there are any negative effects, and any records of leopard casualties or fatalities. “We began investigating various perspectives on individuals. We started by asking individuals if they could recognize a leopard, and we began spreading awareness through school programs. We talked about what individuals needed and gave them advice on how to prevent conflicts between humans and leopards. Among them are bringing their pets inside at night, and we’ve even started rewarding excellent behavior. We established a livestock damage compensation plan with the slogan “Stop Revenge Killing” as a means of reducing conflict.

According to Prof. Kudavidanage, the study is currently in its third year, and they are gathering scientific data to support the information that has already been obtained. “Camera traps are being used, along with methodical landscape monitoring. We are attempting to address these problems on a case-by-case basis, for example, by involving tea planters.

Professor Kudavidanage stated that people’s motivation is fear and that they must work with other stakeholders when facing challenges. However, there is a great demand for land independent of population growth. Therefore, land use management needs to be improved. As a result, we are currently in the process of determining leopard-critical locations. She concluded by saying that everyone is a parent and that a leopard is a kid of Sri Lanka. “Therefore, everyone must take action to safeguard this Sri Lankan native child.”

Main source:https://www.dailymirror.lk/news-features/Sri-Lanka-Leopard-Day-applause-for-efforts–by-conservationists-to-conserve-an-iconic-species/131-288456

Sri Lanka leopard day to save leopards in Sri Lanka

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