GWU of Indigenous Medicine

Gampaha Wickramarachchi University Researchers have spotted critically endangered “Clubtail” at Malwathu Oya Valley after 48 years.
A team of researchers led by Mr. Niwantha Kanuwana has recorded the evidence of Cyclogomphus gynostylus or commonly known as Transvestite Clubtail on 25th September 2024 at the Vayawa Ulpatha tank bund of Bellankadawala cascade - Malwathu Oya river basin. The DSLR camera shot of Mr. Madhawa Athukorala has spotted the species and the research team has verified with the support of IUCN consultation based on morphological features. Findings were presented at the 4th Citizen Scientists Symposium on Conservation and Ecology held on 25ht January 2025 at Colombo organized Young Zoologists Association
The last record of Cyclogomphus gynostylus with location and the count has been in 1976 and no such comprehensive record was made for last 48 years, which highlighted this finding very important to prove the existence of sp.
This finding further reveals the importance of protecting forest tanks like Vayawa Ulpatha in the Bellankadawala cascade without damaging the natural habitats of this kind of critically endangered sp.
The researchers acknowledged the support extended by Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ranjana Wickrama Senewirathne and the Researcher Mr. S.D.A. Gunathilake and A.L Peris from International Union for Conservation of Nature, (IUCN), Sri Lanka Country office, Pelawatta, Battaramulla, (WP), Sri Lanka #nature #dragonfly #malwathuoya #srilanka