The Light Millennium, Charitable Global Human Advancement Organization, proudly presents the below research by Sahan de Silva, Whyteleafe Junior Researcher (Sri Lanka), in support of the 2022 #WorldScienceDay theme’s #BasicSciencesForSustainableDevelopment, along with encouraging students toward further research-based projects.

The theme of World Science Day on 10 November 2022 is Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development. It is being celebrated within the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development, which kicked off on 8 July 2022. Scientists, science communicators, and science enthusiasts are encouraged to prepare their events to celebrate #WorldScienceDay.
“The annual observance of theInternational Week ofScience and Peace, 9-15 November (A/RES/43/61), is making an important contribution to the promotion of peace. The Week encourages greater academic exchanges on a subject of universal importance while also generating greater awareness of the relationship of science and peace among the general public. Based on observances of Science and Peace Week to date, it may be expected that participation each year will increase, contributing to greater international understanding and opportunities for co-operation in the applications of science for the promotion of peace throughout the year.” #ScienceForDevelopmentAndPeace 
Source: https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-science-day/week

Whyteleafe Junior Researchers Series

Endangered Animals who are Endemic to Sri Lanka.
by Sahan de Silva, Whyteleafe Junior Researcher
(28/09/2022) 

Introduction

My research topic is the Endangered animals that are endemic to Sri Lanka. I started this research because many endangered animals are endemic to Sri Lanka. Countries are filled with endemic animals. So, it is so hard to collect the whole world’s endangered animals. So, I choose this topic because it has a frame. I thought it would be easy when going on to other topics. There are many endangered species such as Purple Faced Langoor (Semnopithecus vetuluso), Jungle Fowl (Gallus lafayettii), Yellow Footed Green Pigeon (Treron phoenicoptera), Black Necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus), etc. I found essential information about these endangered animals using the Red Data Book.

❖ My research topic is who are the endemic endangered animals in Sri Lanka and why they are endangered.

❖ This research question is very important to our country. 

❖ Many endemic animals in Sri Lanka are being eaten during the day and finally they will be extinct.

❖ I mostly try to touch on the point of why these animals are dying. [Because when they are dying the animal population is getting low and they are finally endangered and after that they get extinct.]

❖ This research will be especially important for the future.

❖ I am willing to find the number of endemic animals that are being endangered and find the reason for it and try to stop making these animals endangered.

❖ I discovered that most of the animals in Sri Lanka are being endangered due to one reason, which is deforestation. 

My research is interview based and I interviewed Prof. Devaka Weerakoon, Mr. Jagath Gunawardhana, Dr. Wimal Jayantha, and Dr. Wasiri Rasu Gajaman. I used the internet and read the Red Data Book to find out about the endangered species that are endemic to Sri Lanka. Also, I read some other books on endangered animals in Sri Lanka. I referred to a file sent by Dr. Wimal Jayantha which contained much information about endangered animals which are endemic in Sri Lanka. I browsed Google search engines and some YouTube videos. They also consist of reasons why these animals are endangered today.

As a result, I discovered that most of the animals are being endangered because of deforestation, global warming, and loss of habitats and I also found out that the prominent reasons for endemic animals in Sri Lanka to be extinct and endangered are deforestation and global warming. Deforestation causes many animals which are endemic, to be endangered, because of loss of habitat (because many animal species live in forest areas). Global warming causes many endemic animals to go extinct because of the sudden climate changes in Sri Lanka. It is because some animals are adapted only to a certain climate and if it changes, they may face a threat to the living. Many endemic mammals and endemic spider species have been the captives of being extinct in Sri Lanka mainly due to this reason. 

My suggestion is to reduce cutting trees, and prevent dumping garbage as well as waste products into the seas, beaches, lakes, and forests as the animals in those habitats may suffocate to death due to the poisoning of chemicals that are put away. We can strictly restrict hunting down animals. We can suggest establishing more national parks to preserve and protect the habitats of the animals. We must take responsibility for protecting the lives of animals, especially the ones who are facing the threat of extinction. 

Because of the prevailing COVID-19 situation, I had to face several issues like being unable to interview the doctors and professors physically. It was not very easy to find more interviewers to interview. I also had to undergo some technical issues when interviewing; like signal problems. 

I did this research because many endemic animals are becoming extinct day by day, for example, the black panther is a precious animal but unfortunately, this animal has now become extinct. Many animals in Sri Lanka are becoming extinct. So, I wanted to find the reason why these animals are being endangered, because it is not good for our country. If this happens often, there won’t be any endemic species in our country. Lastly, I was able to find out that most of those animals become endangered because of the loss of habitat as well as global warming. 

– . –

Declaration

“I certify that the content of this research is my study findings. The information and data given in the report are authentic to the best of my knowledge.”

Sahan De Silva (28/09/2022)

Whyteleafe Academy

Dedicated to the 2022 World Science Day & International Week of Science and Peace byThe Light Millennium, Charitable Global Human Advancement Organization (LMGlobal.Org; 2001, New York); associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications (formerly, UN.DPI) since 2005. www.lmglobal.org

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