National Geographic explorer and conservation scientist in town

• To share his research and filmmaking experiences on studying African lions and leopard populations
• Working on research study in Yala initiated by Environmental Foundation 

One of the world’s premier conservation scientists, NatGeo explorer and filmmaker Dr. Aleksander Braczkowski is in Sri Lanka on the invitation of the Environmental Foundation Guarantee Ltd., of which he is a collaborator and advisor. 

Dr. Braczkowski’s visit is a follow up on a landmark study conducted in Wilpattu National Park in 2018, which established scientifically sound methodology using camera traps to establish leopard demography.

Braczkowski will be at two speaking engagements while on his visit – the first is an evening at Nuga Gama Cinnamon Grand, Colombo the Host Partner who comes in with a partnership with Cinnamon Nature Trails of Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts on 6 December. He will also conduct a free lecture at the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute on 8 December  

The events aim to create awareness not just on Sri Lanka’s science-based conservation efforts but also showcase the country’s efforts and the collaboration with a world-class scientist on conservation research in Sri Lanka. He will cover the science behind the study of lions and leopard populations, highlighting his long-term work on studying and filming the tree climbing lions of Uganda, the role of filmmaking in the conservation of big cats and his experience as a NatGeo film maker. His research spans estimating the lion population status in Uganda and Southern Africa and leopard demography in Southern Africa.

Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts Vice President of Cinnamon Nature Trails Chitral Jayatilake said: “We are honoured to partner with EFL during Dr. Braczkowski’s visit to Sri Lanka and to be able to share the extensive on-ground field work we have initiated and deployed during the past few years. The sustainability of our ecosystem and its impact on tourism is so closely knitted, we at Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts are delighted to share our experiences with Dr. Braczkowski and learn from his vast expertise on biodiversity restoration.”