Promoting Coexistence in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka
The Central Highlands of Sri Lanka support a remarkable diversity of carnivores, including three species of wild cats—the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), rusty-spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus), and leopard (Panthera pardus)—alongside a range of other small carnivores. These species serve as both keystone and flagship predators, playing critical roles in shaping ecological communities and acting as indicators of habitat health. However, they face mounting threats from habitat fragmentation, land-use change, livestock depredation, and retaliatory killings—pressures that are particularly pronounced in landscapes where human activity closely interfaces with forested areas.
Despite their ecological and cultural significance, conservation efforts remain fragmented, and public awareness is limited. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between science and community engagement by establishing an integrated monitoring and conservation program in the Bopaththalawa and Rakshashawa protected areas and their surrounding human-dominated landscapes.
Using a combination of camera traps and community surveys, the project will generate critical ecological and socio-cultural data to understand species presence, behavior, threats, and human perceptions. These insights will directly inform targeted mitigation strategies that reflect local contexts and realities, with the overarching goal of fostering coexistence and minimizing conflict.
At the heart of the initiative is a community-centered approach. Public awareness campaigns, school eco-clubs, and interactive educational programs will address misconceptions, promote ecological literacy, and empower youth as future stewards of biodiversity. In tandem, community enrichment activities—such as the distribution of predator-proof chicken coops, the promotion of beekeeping, and the provision of fruit tree seedlings—will offer sustainable livelihood alternatives, reducing the economic impact of carnivore interactions. By aligning conservation efforts with tangible household benefits, the project seeks to replace fear with pride and resentment with a sense of guardianship.
The project also integrates eco-tourism development by identifying wildlife trails, training local naturalists, and installing interpretive signboards. These efforts will not only raise the profile of local wildlife but also promote community-led conservation and generate income tied directly to the protection of living carnivores. Regular dialogues with local leaders, plantation managers, and enforcement agencies will ensure that conservation strategies remain socially grounded and institutionally supported.
The long-term vision is to cultivate a landscape of coexistence between people and carnivores—embedding conservation within livelihoods, education, and local governance. By reducing conflict, building community stewardship, and generating robust scientific knowledge, this initiative aspires to serve as a replicable model for community-driven carnivore conservation in human-dominated ecosystems. More than a response to an urgent conservation challenge, this project represents a movement toward safeguarding Sri Lanka’s unique mountain biodiversity through shared responsibility and coexistence.
Bopaththalawa human Altered landscape
