A chat with children about ‘Mammals of Sri Lanka’ by Dr. Sriyanie Miththapala

Dr. Sriyanie Miththapala will chat with children about ‘The Mammals of Sri Lanka’, on Saturday, 7 December, at the Barefoot Gallery, between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. From 10:30-11:15 a.m., the chat will be suitable for children aged 5-7; there will be another chat from 12-1 p.m. aimed for children aged 8-12. Admission is free. After each session, Dr. Miththapala will sign copies of her book ‘Mammals of Sri Lanka for Children’.

Dr. Sriyanie Miththapala

  

This event is supported by both Barefoot Bookshop and the Wildlife Nature Protection Society. 

The chat will be about the mammals of our country, their diversity, behaviour and the threats facing many mammals. Dr. Miththapala believes strongly that children, taught young, can be powerful ambassadors for conservation. She has observed that when children learn about the plants and animals of our country, they also learn to appreciate the natural wealth around us. This is the first, critical step to its conservation.

Dr. Miththapala has more than 25 years of experience in the science of biodiversity conservation and has, for the last two decades, engaged in presenting biology and conservation biology topics to the general public. She is a graduate in Biology from the University of Colombo in Sri Lanka, and obtained her MA in Biology from Smith College, USA, and her PhD in Wildlife and Range Sciences from the University of Florida, USA. She has been a visiting lecturer at the Universities of Colombo and Sri Jayewardenepura and was Principal of Ladies’ College, Colombo. 

Dr. Miththapala is a long-term consultant to the Sri Lanka Country Office of IUCN, International Union for the Conservation of Nature and has also carried out assignments for the UNDP, UNISDR and FAO. She is currently a commission member of IUCN’s Commission on Communication and Education, as well as the Commission on Ecosystem Management. 

Dr. Miththapala is a natural history writer and illustrator and her publications range from scientific papers to books and articles on biology for laypersons. With her father, she is joint author of three books for children — on mammals, birds and butterflies of Sri Lanka; as well as ‘What tree is that? A layperson’s guide to some trees of Sri Lanka’. She is also the author of several books for both the regional and country programs of IUCN. 

She is the primary author on two books written on behalf of the National Trust of Sri Lanka ‘Flowering plants commonly encountered in Sri Lankan habitats’ and ‘Grown in Sri Lanka: cultivated plants’. Her latest book is a revision and complete update of the book ‘Mammals of Sri Lanka for Children’.