Sri Lankan leopards (Panthera pardus kotiya) are a charismatic and elusive species that is found in a diversity of habitats across the island, from mountainous forests to urbanised rural landscapes. While they are apex predators, and are at the top of the food chain, their populations are declining due to a slew of threats such as hunting, entrapment in snares and habitat loss.
Raising awareness of the threats faced by Sri Lankan leopards and learning about their habitats and behaviour is important to ensure their continued protection. With this in mind, we have partnered with Puredale, one of the island’s leading dairy manufacturers, to help raise funds for awareness related activities. Through funds mobilised by Puredale, we will be managing a community engagement and environmental education project aimed at protecting Sri Lanka’s montane leopard populations.
The project objectives are as follows:
By partnering with Leopocon Sri Lanka, this project will develop awareness materials made accessible via a QR code on select Puredale products as well as engage tea estate communities in selected localities. In addition, funds will be mobilised to provide Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) field staff with much-needed equipment to enable them to engage in snare removal activities in high-snaring zones as identified by the DWC and Leopcon.
