Dehiwala Zoo - Conservation Research

Research

Research Division of the Department is set up to develop conservation initiatives and to protect and restore endangered species. Since the conservation is a main objective of Colombo Zoo, most of our research leads to animal conservation and better understanding of animal behavior and improve animal husbandry.

In addition we work directly with teachers, local and foreign students of universities and visitors to develop awareness of and appreciation for the need to preserve biodiversity. The zoo is open for students from schools and universities to conduct researches.

Re-enforcement Research

Re-enforcement research involves returning a species to its natural range. Find out how endangered species are released back into the wild and evaluate translocation, releasing and establishment of them in to the wild.

1. Carried out:

Captive breeding, feeding and rearing of Barred Danio, Devario pathirana and Re-enforcement in the Wild

2. Proposed:

Survey on Ma-oya River basin for Puntius bandula, captive breeding, rearing, feeding and habitat releasing of P. bandula to the wild.

Conservation Based Public awareness

The future of many of the World’s threatened species and ecosystems lies in the hands of a new generation. The research division involves in public awareness programmes based on animal conservation and endangered species management to school children.

Amphibian Research

1. Study on exhibiting, captive rearing, feeding and keeping of five species of frogs and toads

2. Breeding and rearing of Darkling beetle / meal worms (Tenebrio molitor) in captivity as a live food for Frogs.

3. Study on captive breeding and rearing of Rice Grasshoppers (Oxya japonica) as a live food for Slender Loris.