Today, I learned about the plans of the American based food company Dole to destroy thousands of acres of protected land in Samawathiya National Park, Sri Lanka to begin a banana plantation. The operation is illegal, but this land is currently controlled by the Sri Lankan Army and officials from the Department of Wildlife are being excluded from the area. The park is home to about 400 elephants and is an important ecosystem for diverse wildlife. I have copied a relevant link to the bottom of this post.
Shermin and I are putting our energy into combating the destruction of the park, hopefully with the help of environmental lawyers and NGOs. If you know of any individuals or organizations who would be interested in supporting our efforts or who could provide useful contacts, please forward this message along and/or send me their contact information. Until now, Sri Lanka has largely remained free from industrial food corporations; for the welfare of the Sri Lankan people and its wildlife it would be best to keep it that way.
Lakbima News article on Dole park destruction:
http://www.lakbimanews.lk/inde x.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2268%3Apark-land-do led-out-for-bananas-in-our-banana-republic&catid=35%3Anews-f eatures&Itemid=37
Thank you for your support!
Elephant Crossing
This is a male elephant crossing the road in UdaWalawe National Park.
A baby elephant nursing!
This was a very playful individual who came within inches of our vehicle and displayed its flexible trunk. Notice the collar around its neck, which reveals it was rehabilitated and re-released into the wild. Although such playful behavior can be amusing, it is not healthy for the elephants to interact with humans in this manner.
A gorgeous leopard snoozing in the crook of a tree. Yala National Park
Crocodile and water buffalo enjoying a watering hole at Yala National Park
How I Avoid the Leeches
How I Avoid the Leeches: From left: Kumara, the guide, Tharanga, Lizzie, Ashani, Ilja
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