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Thudugala, A.; Weerakoon, B.; Ellepola, G.; Ranawana, K.
Threats and conservation needs of carnivore mammals in human dominated landscapes in Sri Lanka
2016  Conference Proceeding

Sri Lanka has sixteen species of mammals belong to order carnivore. Six of them are locally endangered and habitat preference determines their distribution throughout the country. Sri Lanka is a densely populated country which has 329.1 people per sq.km but only 26% of forest covers remaining hence animals are threatened due to fragmentation and urbanization. This study aims to find out the threats and to take necessary conservation actions to diminish them. Three districts in wet zone and two in dry zone were studied for 28 months. Camera-trapping, road kills, structured survey and veterinary records were used to study population trends, threats and human wildlife conflict in district basis to identify the most potential conservation areas. Ten species were identified as threatened during the study. Fishing cat, ring tail civet and leopard faces the highest thereat. Habitat fragmentations, over exploitation, poaching and road kills are the main threats they face. Road kills and poaching had the highest influence on the population decline in urbanized areas. Camera-traps indicate activities and presence of carnivores in human dominated landscape. As outcome of the study conservation efforts were conducted to minimize the population decline such as warning road signs and information boards in pre recognized areas. Furthermore, education programs and youth camps were organized to raise the awareness. So far, it seems that the conservation strategy has paid off since the human induced death rates were gone down in target locations. Thus conservation action should further be implemented, and regular observations are vital.

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