PRELIMINARY FAUNAL SURVEY OF GANNORUWA FOREST

D Samarasinghe*
S Weediya Bandara** and P Paranagama***
*National herbarium, Peradeniya, **IUCN, Peradeniya, ***Wild Greens

Gannoruwa forest is one of the remaining natural ecosystems found in the vicinity of Kandy. This ecosystem could be used as a foundation site for scientific education. For this reason its is considered very important to conserve Gannoruwa forest as a protected area. In addition to information about flora, faunal data also helps to value this area. The present preliminary survey was carried out to gather baseline information and prepare a fauna inventory of Gannoruwa forest.

Line transacts were marked in different habitat types and Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, Reptiles, a few invertebrate groups, Molluscs, Butterflies were recorded. All species seen and calls identified were recorded.

So far more than fifty bird species were recorded. Loriculus beryllinus, Columa torringtoni, Eumyias sordida, Megalaima flavifrous and Bradypterus palliseri are some endemic species found in the study area. Four Amphibian species were noted and 2 of these are endemic (Philotus temporrralis and Philotus nasutus). The agamid lizards observed in the Gannoruwa forest are Otocryptis weigmanni (endemic) Lyriocepalus scutatus (endemic genus), Calotus versicolo and Calotus calotus. Mammals in the area include endemic Macaca sinica, Sun scrofa, Herpestes fuscus, Tragulus meminna, Field Mice, Rats, Squirrels and Bats. Some butterflies and land molluscs were also recorded in this ecosystem. The highest number of bird species and butterflies were noted in the lower disturbed area of the forest.

More species diversity data will be obtained in the month of November 1995; this information will be help to give a better idea about the forest: it is necessary for future management and conservation of the area and to help prepare any educational programme.

Department of Forestry and Environmental Science,
University of Sri Jayewardenepura,Sri Lanka. 1999. All rights reserved.