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WNPS Leopard Day 2022: How Sri Lanka benefits from ecological and economical roles of leopards-by Kamanthi Wickramasinghea Source:Dailymirror As an indicator, umbrella and keystone species, the Leopard helps fulfill critical ecological roles in the ecosystem (Images of leopards courtesy WNPS) The Sri Lankan leopard is an iconic species that adds more vibrance to the ecological diversity in the country. It plays many roles in the ecosystem apart from posing for a photograph once in a while. However, upon realising the growing threat to leopards as a result of snares, suspect body part trafficking and the bushmeat trade, the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) declared August 1 as the Sri Lanka Leopard Day in 2021. The date coincides with a thesis by Dr. Sriyanie Miththapala which confirmed the Panthera pardus kotiya as an endemic sub species. Whilst paying attention to the species 24/7 due to the threat levels faced by ...