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Monthly Archives: November 2025

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Categories Events, news

National Workshop on Evolution & Diversity of life by Department of Zoology

The Department of Zoology is proud to conclude our transformative 5-day National Workshop, designed for Advanced Level students across the country. We were thrilled to host over 500+ bright young minds and their dedicated teachers, delving deep into the intricacies of the AL Biology syllabus, Unit 3: Evolution and Diversity of Organisms.

Seeing such enthusiastic engagement from students nationwide has been truly inspiring. This event’s success was made possible by the unwavering dedication of our Organizing Committee, and everyone of the Zoology familly and the incredible volunteer spirit of our Zoology students. Your collective commitment ensured a seamless and enriching experience for all.

Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed. We look forward to fostering more such opportunities for academic excellence!

Categories Publications

Occupancy, population density, and activity patterns of endangered Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) in Kumana National Park, Sri Lanka

Being the apex predator of Sri Lanka’s forests, the endangered Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of natural ecosystems. In this study, we aimed to address the paucity of data related to one of the major leopard habitats of the country, Kumana National Park (KNP). This study investigates the spatial occupancy, population density, and activity patterns of the Sri Lankan leopard in KNP, Sri Lanka. Our findings reveal a higher concentration of leopards around water bodies and rocky areas, which provide shelter and support prey species such as wild buffalo and spotted deer. Using random encounter models (REM) and spatially explicit capture–recapture (SECR) analyses the population density of leopards was estimated. The study identified the eastern region of KNP as having one of the highest recorded leopard densities globally, with REM and SECR estimates showing statistically similar results of approximately 41 leopards per 100 km2. This high density is attributed to the availability of prey and habitat variability that supports the ecological needs of leopards. The study underscores the importance of KNP as a stronghold of leopards in southern Sri Lanka and the necessity of preserving its natural habitats.

 
Design & Content ~ Nayana Wijayathilaka.
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