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| Cheranga aka Dr. Poop in the field with colleagues collecting dung samples |
Preface
Cheranga
Dharmasiri is a Final Year student studying International Wildlife Biology at
the University of Glamorgan in the UK. Cheranga spent 4 weeks in June/July 2012 at
the SLWCS Field Projects site in Wasgamuwa to fulfill his final year field research
dissertation requirement. The SLWCS was very
happy to provide Cheranga with all the field assistance and the main laboratory
equipment he needed such as a powerful microscope to successfully complete his
project. The following write up is
Cheranga’ personal account of his stay with the SLWCS while conducting his
independent research project.
In Hot Pursuit of F. jacksoni
My quest for the
elusive Jacksoni began when I was challenged by my University to find an
investigative research project. I considered many exciting projects in various
exotic quarters of the world offered by reputed organizations, but after many
topics been considered and then discarded, it was settled that I would go to Sri
Lanka to look for a fluke named, Fasciola
jacksoni, with the help of the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society.
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| Getting ready to chase after F. jacksoni |
F. jacksoni infests the Asian elephant and is known
to cause morbidity and in some cases mortality. My aim was to assess the
prevalence of this liver fluke in the elephants ranging outside the southern
boundary of the Wasgomuwa National Park. This involved collecting fresh
elephant dung, processing the dung and microscopic analysis to identify the
fluke eggs. Arrangements
were finalized for me to spend 4 weeks at the SLWCS field research centre at
Wasgamuwa with the kind assistance of Mr. Ravi Corea, founder President of this
fantastic organization.
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| Breaking apart a dung pile to get a fresh sample |
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| If F. jacksoni is there I'll find them! |
Although, my
main aim was this project, I had ample time to learn more about the SLWCS
activities. We watched informative documentaries on an open air screen during
dinner and also participated in project activities such as mapping transects
used by the elephants.
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| Observing elephants from the Tree Hut... |
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| ...and from the Land Rover |
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| A young female feedings peacefully by the Land Rover |
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| Nothing is as cute as a baby elephant! |
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| The matriarch of the herd feeding close to the Land Rover means the herd is used to the presence of the field crew |
Spending time
with Chinthaka (the Field Projects and Volunteer Program Manager) and his two
assistants, Aravinda and Sampath enabled me and three other volunteers from the
UK to obtain firsthand experience of the work done by the SLWCS in an effort to
minimise Human-Elephant conflicts. We had a lot of fun and felt safe throughout
our stay.
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| In the jungle...going on a transect to observe elephants and collect dung samples |
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| No pile of fresh dung is left unchecked |
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| Taking a break in the cool sands of a dry water course nearby to hole dug by elephants and other wildlife searching for water |
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| Lunch! All activities must stop for lunch - even scientific research I assume |
With the
cooperation of SLWCS field staff and fellow volunteers, I managed to collect a
plentiful supply of fresh elephant dung to process and analyse. I was thrilled
to find the first F. jacksoni egg. The preliminary data indicated that the
prevalence of F. jacksoni in the free ranging elephant population was lower
than in the elephants confined within the boundary fences of Sri Lanka’s
national parks.
I enjoyed my
free time fishing in the lake with Siriya, who always had the bigger catch. It
was not always bad news as it meant more of Siriya‘s special dish of tasty fried
fish.
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| The Siriya - catching fish |
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| Posing with Siriya's catch |
It was sad to
say goodbye, but I left knowing I have made good friends and hopefully
contributed in a small way to the valuable work carried out by the SLWCS.
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| A Useless friendship! |
I was blessed with an opportunity to revisit
them in August 2012 , this time with my family and we spent three days at the
Field House and enjoyed a great programme of activities.
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| Philosophical reflections with Useless about uselessness |
Thank you again
for all the support.
Cheranga
Dharmasiri
You should see how my pal Wesley Virgin's report begins with this SHOCKING AND CONTROVERSIAL VIDEO.
ReplyDeleteYou see, Wesley was in the military-and shortly after leaving-he discovered hidden, "MIND CONTROL" tactics that the government and others used to get whatever they want.
THESE are the EXACT same tactics tons of famous people (notably those who "come out of nothing") and top business people used to become rich and famous.
You've heard that you use less than 10% of your brain.
That's because most of your brain's power is UNCONSCIOUS.
Maybe this expression has even occurred INSIDE your very own head... as it did in my good friend Wesley Virgin's head about 7 years back, while driving an unregistered, beat-up trash bucket of a car with a suspended driver's license and $3 on his debit card.
"I'm so frustrated with going through life check to check! Why can't I become successful?"
You took part in those conversations, ain't it so?
Your own success story is going to start. You need to start believing in YOURSELF.
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