The Centre for Conservation & Research
Supported by the Abraham Foundation since 2010
MISSION & FOCUS
The Center for Conservation & Research (CCR) leads scientific efforts to conserve Asian elephants in Sri Lanka. Their work redefined national policy, shifting elephant conservation from containment to coexistence protecting both people and elephants.
IMPACT
400 elephants and 150 people are killed annually due to conflict—CCR’s work is directly reducing these figures.
Elephant coexistence efforts now cover significant agricultural regions.
New coexistence policy adopted at the national level in Sri Lanka.
CCR research revealed that 70% of Sri Lanka’s elephant range lies outside protected areas, leading to a landmark shift in conservation strategy. Their work helped create and implement the National Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation Action Plan and promoted community-based electric fencing alongside awareness programs across Asia. This research and advocacy have influenced elephant management policies in multiple elephant range countries.
Your gift helps build on these successes. Donate today.
Meet the Team
Dr. Pruthu Fernando + Dr. Jennifer Pastorini
Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando and Dr. Jennifer Pastorini are co-founders of the Centre for Conservation and Research (CCR) and leading experts in Asian elephant conservation. Dr. Fernando, also a medical doctor and Smithsonian Research Associate, focuses on elephant ecology and human-elephant conflict. Dr. Pastorini, a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology, specializes in conservation genetics and behavior. Together, they champion coexistence strategies that support both elephants and local communities.
The Abraham Foundation has been a major factor in our progress toward making this a better world for elephants and the people that have to contend with them.
— Dr. Pruthu Fernando & Dr. Jennifer Pastorini, Co-Founders
Your Gift
$65
Fuel a field vehicle for daily patrols.
$20
Track elephants for a day outside protected areas.
$130
Fund 50 meters of electric fence to shield a village.
$80
Buy a camera trap for monitoring elephants near villages.
$650
Purchase a camera to document individual elephants.
$375
Support a field conservationist for one month.
Your Impact
Donate to CCR
Real impact starts with you.
Your donation supports trusted local partners driving change for animals, people, and the planet.
