Kalu Wandura team in the field!

On the 23rd of January Kalu Wandura project team, Devaka, Ramyanath, Tharaka, Indika and Chatura went to Waga field station with all the equipment. Harsha was also there with them as an experienced ECO-V member as he was very successful in developing Udawalwa field station two years ago. They were busy whole day cleaning the house and getting ready for next day till I went to have the house warming ceremony. I went to Waga along with my family (Thushara, Boo, Nipu and my mother) next day morning. We all met at the Waga Kahahena temple and met Ven. Kahahena Sri Medananda thero and got his blessings. He was the main person helped us at the beginning when we conducted Waga exhibition on kalu wanduara. Jaliya and Srinath (whom Dr. Rudran trained last October) were also there as they were villagers of the adjacent village to our field station. We had a field visit to the forest entrance but did not enter to the forest as we still do not have permission from the Forest Department. We recorded many fish species and birds from the surrounding area leading to forest and all team members are exited about the work.

Next few days kept us busy on getting permission and making plans for the community survey. Mr. Danasekara, Manager of the Pussella Plantations and Mr. Indika, Grama Niladari of Lahirugama, Welikanna were very helpful in finding the field station and always look after our need now.

Finding solutions and mitigation methods of Human/Kalu wandura conflict and safeguarding its survival are the challenges ahead for us. We hope to achieve it slowly with the commitment of the young team of “Friends of Kalu Wnadura” we are going to form in Waga area.