The Asoka Barb Project: Towards Conservation of a Critically Endangered Endemic Species
The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society created history by collaborating for the 1st time with the National Zoological Gardens of Sri Lanka, specifically the Dehiwela Zoological Gardens. The partnership to conserve the Critically Endangered Endemic Species Systomus Asoka, commonly called the “Asoka Pethiya or Asoka Barb” which was first discovered by our very own Rohan Pethiyagoda in a stream in Kithulgala in 1998, was launched on Friday 15th of March. This fish which is now considered a Critically Endangered endemic (CR) is one of the 415 species that can go extinct in Sri Lanka, according to IUCN Red list of 2020. The project which comes under the scope of the Hemas Endemic Project, will carry out a captive in-situ breeding program in the locality or two whilst providing the community in the locality the necessary education and awareness. This includes both the National Zoological Gardens and WNPS choosing the School Kalyani Maha Vidyalaya in Kithulgala to spearhead our education and awareness and make 10 of these children ambassadors to protect this species.
The CR Endemic Species comes under the project scope of the Hemas collaboration with WNPS where we will be choosing 52 CR endemics to protect and conserve their survival and to avoid these species going extinct. Hemas who have recognized that our Country needs such conservation efforts have come forward with a significant funding and collaboration for 5 years, and they will be our backbone to help WNPS work with different researches around the country to preserve at least these 52 CR endemics.
WNPS was represented by its President Jehan CanagaRetna and the Endemic Project Coordinator, Sanjaya Weerakkody.