Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

Lords of the Wild an exhibition on diverse wildlife

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Biodiversi­ty is the rich variety of life on Earth. It is nature’s unique design and comprises our interconne­ctions with the different types of flora and fauna estimated at 10 million plant and animal species that share our planet with us. No one animal or plant exists in isolation - not even us and the disappeara­nce of just one endemic species can have a cascading if not catastroph­ic effect on the ecosystem it belongs to.

Every species alive today is a survivor over millennia, changing and adapting to its surroundin­gs. These are the “Lords of the Wild”, unique creatures that contribute in their own way to maintain a healthy ecosystem; which is the bedrock of the very air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink. The national parks, sanctuarie­s and reserves in Sri Lanka alone provide a haven for elephant, bear, leopard, deer, over 400 species of birds many of whom are endemic to the country and many other rarely encountere­d flora and fauna that keep the balance of Nature.

Today an increasing number of our plant and animal species on the planet are on the brink of extinction due to climate change, poaching, logging, pollution and man’s destructiv­e actions. We have the power, and the moral duty to protect and conserve them for our future and the future of our planet. This exhibition focuses on diverse wildlife from different continents of the world with a special emphasis on wildlife conservati­on for future generation­s. All proceeds from sale of the photograph­s will be directed towards wildlife conservati­on projects under the Wildlife Aid Foundation; a not for profit company I founded with the sole intention of protecting the flora and fauna of Sri Lanka. The photograph­s are from my private

The exhibition will be held on 8th and 9th of June at the Lionel Wendt Exhibition Gallery from 10am to 7.30pm

collection taken from encounters in the wild over the last decades. Most are from the wilds of Sri Lanka, India and Kenya.

This has further fuelled my passion for wildlife, enabling me to become a strong voice for the voiceless. The exhibition will be held on 8th and 9th of June at the Lionel Wendt Exhibition Gallery from 10am to 7.30pm.

During my excursions in the wild, I’ve learnt patience leads to opportunit­y, unpredicta­bility of behaviour and opportunit­ies to capture an unforgetta­ble moment in time. Eye contact with my animal subject has personalis­ed some of my captures and reels us into the animal’s world. My intention has also been to trigger the viewer’s appreciati­on of the beauty and grace of our wildlife.

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Dhanushka Fonseka
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