Assessing the Avifauna, Odonata, and Lepidoptera of Kirala Kele Sanctuary, Wet Zone of Sri Lanka and Conservation Implications

The Kirala Kele Sanctuary in the Matara District, Sri Lanka, covers approximately 1800 hectares of diverse wetland ecosystems that range from marshlands to riparian zones, paddy fields, and woodlands. This study quantifies the biodiversity of avifauna, butterflies, and odonates across four different habitat types during 12 replicate line transect surveys from March 2022 to July 2023, representing multiple climatic seasons. Field observations recorded 104 bird species, which represent 20% of Sri Lanka's avian diversity, 58 species of butterflies, which is 23.5% of the country's total, and 27 odonate species, which represent 20.6% of the total of the island. Key diversity metrics, such as Shannon-Wiener (H'), Simpson's (1/D), and evenness indices (E), showed habitat-specific patterns in biodiversity. Bird diversity was highest in transect 02 which represents the paddy-water catchment area, with an H' value of 3.42, and was attributed to a mix of aquatic and terrestrial resources. The highest diversity of butterflies (H' = 1.85), and odonates(H' = 1.99) were performed by transect 01 (marshy land ecosystem), probably because of its freshwater availability and dense aquatic vegetation. The endemism and conservation status of the area were represented by five endemic bird species, including Psilopogon rubricapillus, Megalaima flavifrons, Dinopium psarodes, Chrysocolaptes stricklandi, and Loriculus beryllinus one endemic butterfly species, Jamides lacteata, and one endemic odonate species, Pseudagrion rubriceps ceylonicum. Furthermore, 11 threatened species across the three faunal taxonomic groups emphasize the critical need for conservation in the area. Other conservation challenges and threats identified were habitat degradation, alien invasive species, and anthropogenic pressures like agricultural encroachment and pollution. This makes attention to the implementation of sustainable agriculture practices and the involvement of the local communities in conservation matters. These findings form a useful baseline for biodiversity monitoring and stress the sanctuary's role in providing a vital refuge for wetland species. By highlighting the Kirala Kele Sanctuary’s ecosystem heterogeneity and its significance for both biodiversity and livelihoods, this research advocates for integrated conservation strategies that balance ecological sustainability with local community needs. These insights are vital for