Lunuganga – Honduwa Island Sanctuary
Honduwa Island, a 20-acre estuarine island nestled within the Dedduwa Lake basin formed by the Bentota Ganga, is a unique ecological haven with a rich conservation legacy. Acquired by Geoffrey Bawa in the 1970s and declared a wildlife sanctuary during his lifetime, the island has been protected from development and degradation for over five decades.
Since 2002, it has been administered by the Lunuganga Trust, which has maintained its sanctuary status with minimal human interference.
The island is home to one of Sri Lanka’s most significant conservation success stories: the revival of the endangered Hog Deer (Axis porcinus). Historically found along the southwestern coastal belt between Galle and Kalutara, the species was once thought to be extinct in Sri Lanka. However, a 1992 survey revealed a remnant population in the Elpitiya–Induruwa–Ambalangoda region. In 2013, two female Hog Deer were reintroduced to Honduwa Island by the Wildlife Conservation Society of Galle in collaboration with the Geoffrey Bawa Trust. Over the next three years, six more individuals were added under the oversight of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC).
Today, the population has grown to over 30 individuals, thriving in the predator-free and naturally contained environment of the island. However, the population has exceeded the island’s carrying capacity, requiring daily supplementary feeding. In response, the Trust and its partners have launched a joint initiative to expand habitat availability by restoring a second site nearby, aiming to reduce food pressure and support wider distribution. The long-term vision is to contribute meaningfully to the wild population of Hog Deer in Sri Lanka, with the hope of eventually improving its IUCN status. The Lunuganga PLANT site is also part of a broader effort to restore critical forested habitats across two large landscapes, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of species recovery and ecosystem resilience.
