About Us

Protecting and conserving Sri Lanka’s small wild cats, small mammals, and their habitats, through conservation and research.


Established in 2017, Small Cat Advocacy and Research (SCAR) is a non-profit organisation dedicated towards the protection of Sri Lanka’s lesser understood small wild cats, and small mammals.

Our focus is to gain a better understanding of the three species through conservation and research, and use the knowledge gained to conserve the species throughout the island by working closely with communities, stakeholders and government authorities. Our awareness campaigns on the three small wild cats will ensure wider reach and educate the general public that these lesser-known species are just as important as their larger cousin (i.e. the Sri Lankan leopard).


Board of Directors and Advisory Committee

SASIRU WIJERATHNE

BOARD MEMBER

LAUREL KLEIN SERIEYS, PhD

ADVISOR
TELEMETRY AND URBAN ECOLOGY

DEVAN SEWELL

ADVISOR
FUNDRAISING AND SMALL WILD CAT HUSBANDRY

JIM SANDERSON, PhD

ADVISOR
CONSERVATION

Everyone on the Ground

ANYA RATNAYAKA

URBAN WILDLIFE PROGRAM DIRECTOR
FOUNDER AND PRIMARY INVESTIGATOR: URBAN FISHING CAT CONSERVATION PROJECT

ASHAN THUDUGALA

CARNIVORE CONSERVATION DIRECTOR
FOUNDER AND PRIMARY INVESTIGATOR: SAVE FISHING CAT CONSERVATION PROJECT

ASHANI HANGAWATTE

WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST
PRIMARY INVESTIGATOR: WILD CAT FELINE PANLEUKOPENIA VIRUS STUDY

ANJALLEE PRABHAKARAN

WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST / CONSERVATION COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
PRIMARY INVESTIGATOR: TERRESTRIAL MAMMAL MONITORING PROJECT

CHARINDA DISSANAYAKE

Wildlife biologist
CO-INVESTIGATOR: TERRESTRIAL MAMMAL MONITORING PROJECT

SHAHDIA JAMALDEEN

IN-HOUSE CREATIVE

Vishwa C. Dushmantha

Project officer
Save FISHING CAT CONSERVATION PROJECT

MADURANGA RANAWEERA

FIELD TECHNICIAN
URBAN FISHING CAT CONSERVATION PROJECT

BUDDHIKA WEERAKOON

FIELD TECHNICIAN
SAVE FISHING CAT CONSERVATION PROJECT

Nalindra Laxman

FIELD TECHNICIAN
SAVE FISHING CAT CONSERVATION PROJECT

Interns and Volunteers

SAYURU IMESH

VOLUNTEER
URBAN FISHING CAT CONSERVATION PROJECT
Student: BSc (Hons) in Information Technology, SLIIT

AMAVIN MENDIS

VOLUNTEER
URBAN FISHING CAT CONSERVATION PROJECT
Student: BSc (Hons) in Biotechnology, SLIIT

JAMES CRESSWELL

VOLUNTEER FIELD TECH
SAVE FISHING CAT CONSERVATION PROJECT

Dilrukshi Dishani

Intern
SAVE FISHING CAT CONSERVATION PROJECT
Student: BSc in Natural Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka

Harsha Dissanayke

intern
SAVE FISHING CAT CONSERVATION PROJECT
Student: BSc in Natural Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka

Chameera dilshan

intern
SAVE FISHING CAT CONSERVATION PROJECT
Student: BSc Environmental Conservation & Management, The University of Kelaniya

Gothami Abeynayaka

INTERN
SAVE FISHING CAT CONSERVATION PROJECT
Student: BSc in Zoology, The Open University of Sri Lanka

Thathsara Dilan

INTERN
SAVE FISHING CAT CONSERVATION PROJECT
Student: BSc in Natural Sciences (Physics), The Open University of Sri Lanka

Theekshana Abeykoon

Intern
SAVE FISHING CAT CONSERVATION PROJECT
Student: BIs sp. (Hons) Agriculture & Plantation Engineering, The Open University of Sri Lanka

Ravindi Menikrama

Intern
SAVE FISHING CAT CONSERVATION PROJECT
BSc, The Open University of Sri Lanka

Sachin Perera

VOLUNTEER
URBAN FISHING CAT CONSERVATION PROJECT

Samangi Alawattegama

VOLUNTEER
URBAN FISHING CAT CONSERVATION PROJECT