TAPROBANICA, ISSN 1800-427X. April, 2010. Vol. 02, No. 01: pp. 48-63, pls. 2. © Taprobanica Nature Conservation Society, 146, Kendalanda, Homagama, Sri Lanka. CURRENT STATUS OF FAUNAL DIVERSITY IN BELLANWILA – ATTIDIYA SANCTUARY, COLOMBO DISTRICT - SRI LANKA Sectional Editor: Upali Amarasinghe Submitted: 29 March 2010, Accepted: 20 April 2010 D. M. S. Suranjan Karunarathna 1,4, A. A. Thasun Amarasinghe 2,5, Dinesh E. Gabadage 2 Mohomed M. Bahir 2 and Lee E. Harding 3 1 Nature Exploration & Education Team, B-1/G-6, De Soysapura Flats, Moratuwa 10400, Sri Lanka 2 Taprobanica Nature Conservation Society, 146, Kendalanda, Homagama, Sri Lanka 3 SciWrite Environmental Sciences Ltd. 2339 Sumpter Drive, Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada Corresponding authors: 4
[email protected], 5
[email protected] Abstract The present survey shows the biodiversity decline in Bellanwila - Attidiya Sanctuary (BAS). A total of 152 species of vertebrates and 75 species of butterflies are recorded from BAS. Sixteen of these species are endemic, and five of them are nationally threatened. Vertebrates represent 11 amphibians, 27 reptiles, 22 fresh water fishes, 78 birds and 14 mammal species. Habitat destruction, industrial toxic waste and garbage dumping are the major threats to the biota of the BAS. Key wards: Wetland, Biodiversity decline, Threats, Endangered species, Colombo, Conservation Introduction Sri Lanka is not isolated from the current global Swinbanks, 1997), erosion (Hewawasam et al., period of mass extinctions (Achard et al., 2002; 2003), agro chemical use (Hayes et al., 2002; Jenkins, 2003). Many species of animals, plants and Pethiyagoda, 1994), infectious diseases (Daszak et other organisms are disappearing by the direct or al., 2000; Pounds et al., 2006) and lack of indirect human activities in the planet: deforestation systematic or scientific understanding (Pethiyagoda, (Brook, et al., 2003; Ferraz et al., 2003; 2007b; Bahir, 2009; Bahir & Gabadage, 2009a,b).