In a pioneering effort aimed at environmental conservation and bird biodiversity research, a two-year-old reptilian eagle has been equipped with a GPS collar and released into the environment near the historic Gannoruva forest in Kandy. This groundbreaking initiative marks the first-ever project in Sri Lanka to collect bird biodata using GPS technology, organized jointly by the Zoology Department of the University of Colombo and Central Provincial Environmental Organizations.
As the inaugural step of this ambitious project, aimed at enhancing environmental development and bird conservation efforts across the country, the reptilian eagle adorned with the GPS collar was set free into its natural habitat. Environmentalist Pradeep Samarawickrama, Chairman of the Provincial Environmental Organizations Association, hailed this milestone as a significant leap forward in wildlife research and conservation endeavors.
A notable feature of this endeavor is the utilization of a GPS collar equipped with a solar panel, ensuring continuous power supply through sunlight. This innovative technology is poised to capture comprehensive data, including the distance covered by the eagle during flight, its altitude, and even its diving depth in water bodies.
The success of this project owes much to the collaborative efforts of numerous ecologists, working under the guidance and supervision of Professor Sampath Senaviratne, an esteemed Ornithologist from the Zoology Department of the University of Colombo, and Pradeep Samarawickrama, a distinguished Environmentalist serving as Chairman of the Central Provincial Environment Association.
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