Vijitha Perera is our Sri Lankan EDGE Fellow working to conserve the slender loris. Vijitha has been working as a wildlife veterinarian for the Sri Lankan Department of Wildlife Conservation since 1998, where his role involves mitigation of human-animal conflict, monitoring migratory species, disease surveillance and treating wild animals, and rehabilitation of orphan/disabled animals.

Vijitha obtained a veterinary degree in 1995 and Master’s degree on Biodiversity Conservation Management in 2003 from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He also completed a Diploma on Endangered Species Management in 2004 from the International Training Centre of Durrell Wildlife Conservation, Jersey, UK. Further, he has participated in a short course on wild animal health management at the College of African wildlife Management, Tanzania.

Under the EDGE fellowship, Vijitha is conducting a survey of the red slender loris, in the Knuckles Range of Central Sri Lanka, a conservation area part of the Knuckles National Heritage and Wilderness area. Dr U K G K Padmalal of Open University of Sri Lanka works with him as a local supervisor. Vijitha will collect morphological, behavioural, and vocalisation data that can be used to evaluate the taxonomic status of the red and grey slender lorises.

Vijitha is also interviewing local people using a semi-structured questionnaire, to evaluate their sensitivity and concepts on lorises. Further he is planning to carry out education awareness programmes about the slender loris, for school children and local communities.

Vijitha is currently taking time out from his EDGE Fellowship to complete a MSc in Wild Animal Health, taught jointly between the Institute of Zoology and Royal Veterinary College, London, but will continue with his research in October 2009.