Our Mission
We are a group of researchers using interdisciplinary science to inform conservation efforts in Sri Lanka, all to help better the lives of elephants—and the people that live among them.
Asian elephants are symbols of cultural and environmental heritage for Sri Lanka. While they deserve our global stewardship, we also acknowledge that it is ultimately the Sri Lankan people who will decide their fate. We aim to provide stakeholders in Sri Lanka with tools and information to assist in sustainable conservation, an approach that empowers local communities to become active participants in wildlife conservation.
Through our work, our team and supporters share the following guiding principles:
1
The science and practice of conservation must involve and serve the needs of local communities.
2
Conservation strategies should be data-driven, integrating information from a wide range of disciplines.
3
The field of conservation is dependent upon knowledge and experiences from diverse stakeholders.
We are investing in the next generation of conservationists in Sri Lanka.
Where to find us
Our field house is located nearby Dambulla, Sri Lanka, where we share accommodations with our field partner, Kaludiyapokuna Primate Conservation and Research Center.
The field house is our center of operations: it is a short drive from the parks in which we observe elephants and from the communities that we serve, and it acts as a hub for data organization and sample storage and processing.