John,

Dugongs are manatee-like sea mammals that are nicknamed “sea cows” because they spend most of their time grazing and laying in sea grass. 

Now Sri Lanka’s only home for them, the Vidattaltivu Nature Reserve, is under threat as the government plans to remove its environmental protections in favor of industrial seafood farming.

This would be devastating not just to the dugongs, but also other wildlife and even local communities that depend on the nature reserve. 

This plan was proposed before, but public pressure got it scrapped. Let’s help do it again and show the Sri Lankan government that people in every corner of the planet want to save this special reserve:

Government of Sri Lanka: Protect the Vidattaltivu Nature Reserve - protect the dugongs and local fishing communities!

A local organisation, the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society, has secured a temporary halt -- but time is running out and together we can turn this into a permanent ban.

Vidattaltivu Reserve is the lifeblood of the local fishing communities and home to many precious animal species -- from migratory birds to the gentle dugongs. Its waters provide a safe haven for animals and breeding grounds for fish, ensuring there is sustainable supply. 

If all of that gets destroyed, local communities will lose their income and food sources – and dugongs will lose their homes.

We can win this. Ekō members have been resisting the destructive industrial aquaculture sector for years – from Lidl’s shrimp supplier's labour conditions, to Wagamama’s salmon feed. Together we can help save this precious nature reserve, but only if there’s huge public pressure.

Tell the Sri Lankan government: save the dugongs and protect Vidattaltivu!