wildlife conservation
Science led programs to safeguard wildlife, oceans, and communities
Science driven. Community focused. Action oriented.
Our Conservation Program
Our work targets Sri Lanka’s most urgent environmental challenges with a model that combines evidence based research, field response, and community partnership. We run long term projects that address critical threats like human elephant conflict and the collapse of marine ecosystems. Alongside this, we launch shorter campaigns where rapid intervention can protect species or habitats under immediate pressure. At every step we collaborate with government agencies, universities, and local communities to ensure lasting solutions.
OUR VOICE FOR THE ANIMALS
PROJECTS & CAMPAIGNS
Responding to human elephant conflict with veterinary care, rapid field action, and proven prevention methods that reduce harm to both people and wildlife.
Protecting dugongs, restoring seagrass meadows, and conserving mangroves that hold some of the highest carbon storage of any ecosystem on Earth.
Campaigns
Short term interventions that focus on urgent issues such as regulating whale watching, protecting sea turtles at tourist beaches, and reducing wildlife disturbance in safaris.
Our 2-Year Conservation Roadmap
Turning Vision Into Action
Our work is designed to grow in step with the nonprofit hostel and tourism programs that will fund it. While our field operations have not yet begun, our strategy is in place. Over the next five years we will build the capacity, partnerships, and funding streams needed to deliver measurable conservation results.
OUR ROADMAP:
Phase 1: Build the Foundation
Complete hostel construction and establish Beyond the Backpack as a self-sustaining nonprofit tourism model.- Phase 2: Launch Flagship Projects
Initiate the Mobile Wildlife Response Unit for elephants and begin baseline surveys of dugong habitats and seagrass ecosystems.
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Phase 3: Expand Community Programs
Deliver conflict-prevention training, pilot seagrass restoration, and engage fisher families and farmers as conservation partners. -
Phase 4: Scale Campaigns
Roll out targeted campaigns addressing urgent issues like whale watching, sea turtle tourism, and safari regulation. -
Phase 5: Consolidate and Report Impact
Publish data, share results openly, and expand programs into new landscapes based on measurable outcomes.
KEY LANDSCAPES AND PRIORITY SITES
VITAL DATA
Why It Matters
Sri Lanka is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots but it is also facing a conservation crisis. The country records the highest human elephant conflict mortality rate globally. Fewer than 200 dugongs may remain in Sri Lankan waters. Mangroves and seagrasses are disappearing at alarming rates, undermining both wildlife survival and community resilience. Our approach ensures that every action is guided by science, measurable data, and direct community benefit.
JOIN US IN PROTECTING SRI LANKA'S WILDLIFE
Your support directly funds conservation. It powers emergency response in the field, ecosystem restoration along the coasts, and training programs with local communities. Together we can build a future where people and nature thrive.