Saving Mannar’s haven for migratory birds
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‘From Manike to Mary to the Hanuman Plover – to keep the magic of Mannar alive’. This month’s Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) lecture will be delivered by Prof. Sampath Seneviratne, Research Scientist, University of Colombo, on October 20 at 6 p.m at the Jasmine Hall, BMICH.
Being one of the southernmost landmasses of the Central Asian Flyway (CAF) that spans from north-eastern Asia across to Europe down the conical Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka becomes the terminus of many migrants who take up the flyway across Asia. The Mannar Island holds a special place in CAF, providing exciting opportunities to study the poorly known migratory routes and strategies of Asian migrants.
The ‘Sri Lanka’s GPS/GSM Satellite Tagging Study of Migratory Birds’ was initiated in Mannar in 2020. To date, about 40 individuals of 12 waterbird species have been tagged under the programme, generating breathtaking insights not just about our migrants, but also on some of the elusive breeding birds in the region.
The magic of Mannar is fading fast though. Legal and illegal encroachment and deforestation continue as the much-debated windmills and power lines stand across its critical habitats. The ill-planned development has further threatened Mannar’s very existence – not just for migrants but also for those who called this ‘Africa of Sri Lanka’ their home, those including the fisherfolk, farmers, and the vibrant assortment of wildlife. Dr Seneviratne will turn the spotlight on these issues and show us how to keep the magic of Mannar alive – for our diversity, for our beauty and for our prosperity.
Sampath Seneviratne is specialized in Molecular Ecology, Evolutionary Genetics and Ornithology. His research approach uses both field and laboratory-based research.
The monthly WNPS lecture open to both members and non-members (entrance free) is supported by the Nations Trust Bank. It will also be on both Zoom and FB live.
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