- Championing nature trails-his life’s mission
We are sitting on a goldmine of diversity which can be strategically used to place Sri Lanka as the next best destination to Africa.
Over the last 20 years, Jayatilake and his team have pursued a number of wildlife conservation projects, beginning with the Leopard project at Yala. This involved the installation of 100 steel pens to protect cattle near the eastern, western and northwestern borders of Yala National park.
An award winning wildlife photographer and sustainable Tourism advocate, renowned for showcasing Sri Lanka’s wildlife through international productions, Chitral Jayatilake is Vice President, Nature Trails at Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts.
Pix By Shan Rambukwella
Leading a team of experienced naturalists and wildlife enthusiasts at Cinnamon Nature Trails that provide locals and foreign visitors guided explorations in National Parks and beyond, they ensure enriching encounters with nature and wildlife. This is his work in life. But for him, it’s his life’s work that consists of much more!
There are over 20 curated experiences and safari tours that are operated by ‘Nature Trails’ from Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts, that include into the itineraries for the nature and wildlife enthusiasts. These experiences can be tailor made to suite nature lovers with specialist naturalist guides leading them in wild and free spaces in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile their Outbound arm, Cinnamon Holidays takes avid travelers on photographic expeditions across the island and beyond the shores covering India, Africa, Brazil, Hungary, Borneo and Madagascar.
Q: Apart from ensuring that the traveler in particular, be it local or foreign enjoy his or her holiday with the curated safaris displaying nature at its best being offered through the company you serve, what is the larger picture you see and striving at in terms of Wild Life in general in the country?
A. “I would like to see an effort to position Sri Lanka as a Top Wildlife destination with its unique natural world. Our efforts are focused in positioning Sri Lanka as the ’Ultimate Island safari’. This I feel is truly possible. Jayatilake quoted two endorsements displaying the great potential Sri Lanka holds in achieving this. Our country has been recognized as a ‘Top wildlife Safari Outside of Africa’ by the renowned Forbes magazine. Sri Lanka has a myriad of offerings in its unique wilderness that compares well with any other island of its size, and shines even when compared with larger countries such as India.
Young Chitral won an award at the fourth Festival of Wildlife photography held by the Department of Wildlife Conservation. He received the award from Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburg.
The smaller size, and ease of traversing between locations is a massive advantage we have and amongst 22 million people who are hospitable, the natural world here stands as a magnet of attraction to any nature loving tourist.”
Q:What is the percentage of Tourists that fall to the category of nature and adventure Tourists arriving in Sri Lanka? What needs to be developed to ensure its growth in this sector?
A. “The numbers who arrive here purely for our natural world is very low, yet the attraction of wildlife Sri Lanka has on offer is a massive value addition for the visitors that exceeds two million now.
We should also promote the island as a Brilliant destination for birding and safaris using the assets we are so blessed to have, imagine a small island, with 22 Million people – boasting of having six thousand plus elephants in the wild, five hundred bird species, dense population of leopards second to none and 22 cetaceans at sea including Blue whales. We are sitting on a goldmine of diversity which can be strategically used to place Sri Lanka as the next best destination to Africa.
And this effort will certainly need both the Government and the private sector to join hands in filling the gaps in creating world-class experiences that will help take the message to the world, placing the spotlight on Sri Lanka’s natural diversity in the eyes of the global travelers.”
Q: You have along the years pioneered a number of wildlife conservation projects can you enlighten us on those?
A.“One such project was ‘The Leopard Project’ at Yala. This involved the installation of 100 steel pens to protect cattle near the Eastern, Western and Northwestern borders of Yala National park.
Placed 2nd for an image of a crocodile that lunges at deer taken at Yala National Park at “The Santuary wildlife Awards in India 2023.
“Leopards are crafty, as they snatch calves at night from unsafe pens. By keeping the young cattle in steel pens, the villagers were able to save their young cattle from visiting leopards. It was heartening to see how these efforts have contributed to villagers in uplifting their quality of life. “
“Our team also commenced Project Cinnamon Elephant at the Cinnamon Lodge Habarana. This effort has studied over 400 elephants while we also raised funds to place two satellite trackers through the Department of Wildlife Conservation.”
“The Lead scientist on the project Dr. Prithivireaj Fernando assisted by Nature Trails team gathers data of these herds and their movements with a detailed picture on how some herds move during the dry months, and how close they get within human habitation.
“Cinnamon Hotels also embarked on its first wet Zone reforestation project in Sinharaja Forest Reserve where a 55 acre plot adjacent to the main rainforest is scientifically reforested.”
“We also collaborated with the TUI Care Foundation in Germany along with Dr,Prithiviraj and his team to help construct a five kilometer community electric fence that keeps the rural village of ‘Bendi-wewa’ safe from elephants. Here, villagers tell us how safe they feel after two decades of crop losses.”
“We have also been fortunate that these projects were possible with the Cinnamon hotels being situated within close proximity to national parks and places of wilderness, and we feel it’s our duty to give back, for all the pleasures the natural world has offered us – and help protect what’s irreplaceable’
Q: What more should the corporates and conservationists do?
A.“We all must give something back to the environment in which we operate.” We are making headway in sustainability initiatives, but wildlife conservation needs more focus.
His recent efforts had BBC filming mountain leopards in Sri Lanka for eight weeks and the story of Horton plains will be aired for a worldwide audience early next year. (Pictured on right with famous CNN Business News Anchor Richard Quest)
Joining hands and working together amongst us will certainly help, as operating as islands will only have fragmented efforts. It’s time we share information, work as larger teams with a shared goal – that can be powered jointly by corporates along with the relevant Government agencies as partners.
Together – we can achieve far more.
Q: When you speak of wild life and photography- it appears to be an inherent quality, when did this all start for you? When was it the defining moment that you realized this is your life’s work path?
A. “I believe, 41 years ago at Buttuwa junction- Yala, my guide Somapala found a female leopard resting at first light, an image I took which won an award for at the fourth Festival of Wildlife photography held by the Department of Wildlife Conservation, and was fortunate to receive the award from Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburg. It was a turning point in my journey as a young nature photographer.
Q: What are the awards you have won since and the latest one?
A. “I personally don’t chase awards. We do this work as we enjoy getting involved and help conservation, yet some efforts have been recognized. “The Santuary wildlife Awards in India 2023 honors nature photographers for their contribution in the conservation of wildlife and forests.”
“I was placed 2nd for an image of a crocodile that lunges at deer taken at Yala National Park.”
“Our efforts to promote the island as a Nature based tourism destination has been recognized by two PATA Gold awards and a Silver award at the WTM awards in London in 2018.”
“Receiving the Sri Lanka Tourism’s best Conservationist Naturalist award 2017 was an honour.”
“I also consider myself privileged to have received 04 prestigious JKH Chairmen’s awards for our work in nature based tourism.”
Q: What would your advice be for the up and coming wild life enthusiasts, conservationists and wild life photographers?
A. “Get away from devices when you can, explore the natural world and understand the logic of sharing this planet with other beings. Thereafter – we can pool our resources to engage in changing mindsets and creating efforts for conservation, as the future will demand we leave some of this splendor intact for those who will walk this planet after us. For that – chasing likes alone won’t help – It’s time to build bridges and work together. Let’s not give up, as what we are fighting to save is not replaceable.”
Chitral’s passion to showcase Sri Lanka to the world makes him attract top end production houses such as BBC Planet earth team, BBC Blue Planet team, Warner brothers, Sentient Productions and Plimsol productions to Sri Lanka filming the islands diversity for international networks.
His recent efforts had BBC filming mountain leopards in Sri Lanka for eight weeks and the story of Horton plains will be aired for a worldwide audience early next year.
Chitral has exhibited his own photographs at eleven exhibitions in Sri Lanka, United Kingdom and USA while he has published his work on four coffee table books. Chitral and his team continues to bring top experts on film making and photography to Sri Lanka sharing their expertise with the enthusiasts in the island.
Nature Trails can be surreal, perhaps even life changing. I myself, the interviewer of this article being a wildlife enthusiast and one with an eye for photography especially of the wilds, struck too familiar a cord with the wildlife images before me, fixated by the vivid stories, losing even track of time, fascinated by what nature and wildlife can unfold before our very eyes –seeing in real life and capturing it all through the lens –it’s a form of art and style, a league its own, almost a lifestyle with a penchant for the jungles, safari, wildernesses- utterly amazing!.
