Ashan Nimantha Thudugala is a Sri Lankan wildlife ecologist and PhD candidate at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), specializing in behavioural ecology and the conservation of wild felids in human‑dominated landscapes. He is the Co‑founder and Carnivore Conservation Director of Small Cat Advocacy & Research (SCAR), where he leads long‑term research and conservation initiatives on the Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya), Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), Rusty‑spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus), and Jungle Cat (Felis chaus). His research integrates camera trapping, behavioural ecology, occupancy modelling, and spatial analysis to investigate carnivore coexistence, interspecific interactions, and human–carnivore relationships. With over a decade of field experience, Ashan is committed to advancing evidence‑based conservation and strengthening protection of Sri Lanka’s threatened wild cats through community‑based conservation, collaborative partnerships, and inclusive approaches that foster coexistence between people and wildlife.