Natbound

30/03/2023

Unfolding the wild

Tour of Ladakh

Wildlife and culture
July 2023 (dates to be decided depending on prospective clients convenience)
09 day tour

“A sneak preview of heaven”

Ladakh is also known as little Tibet or to some “the last Shangri La”. Possibly the most far flung and sparsely populated regions of India.

Incredibly diverse yet closely bound cultures and harsh weather conditions yet filled with mystic traditions and most peculiar yet interesting. Summer in Ladakh is astoundingly beautiful thus the month of July was decided upon.

The tour is primarily for birding and wildlife with a mix of culture as well.
Pre-determined Sites around Leh would be of focus during the tour of 09 days. Nubra valley and Tso Kar would be of interest from a wildlife and scenic perspective.

The tour is led by Lester Perera who’s got over two decades of experience of birding and mammal watching experience in India.

Minimum of 04 to a maximum of 08 persons only.

Cost 2900 US$ per person
All inclusive of accommodation transport and airfare.
*Conditions apply.
For further information
Contact Lester Perera on WhatsApp +94 (0)716389827

08/02/2023

Unfolding the wild


Tigers of Kipling land

Tour of Kanha and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserves.
April 2023.

After “Jungle Book” by Kipling, Dr. George Schaller who was instrumental in bringing back from extinction the hard ground swamp deer (Barasingha) subspecies (Rucervus duvaucelii branderi) in (The Deer & the Tiger" 1967), brought Kanha in to fame.

Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh remains the largest and possibly the most diverse with some iconic mammals of India the Bengal Tiger, the largest bovid of India, the Gaur (Bos gaurus), Indian Leopard, sloth Bear, Dhole or better known as Wild Dog - (Cuon alpinus alpinus) many more.

Besides Kanha, Bandhavgarh boasts of the highest tiger density. The tour focus would be much on the magnificent Tiger, other animals would be given equal priority as well.

Lester Perera, who’s got over two decades of experience of birding and mammal watching experience in India, would be leading the tour.

Visiting the local village and market would be within the framework of indulgences, to absorb the cultural aspects of the magnificent state of Madhya Pradesh.

The tour of Central India would be the inclusion of Kanha and Bhandhawghar National parks.
06 day tour covers the best of the best Tiger reserves of central India

The tour while concentrating on Tigers will focus on other interesting Mammals and Birds unique to Central India.

Minimum 4 people
Each tour will entertain only four persons for a much personalized service.
Cost 2200 USD per person.

Tour dates (April 11th to the 17th) and itinerary.
All inclusive, from accommodation, transport and airfare.
For further information
Contact Lester on - WhatsApp +94(0)716389827
Email - [email protected] or [email protected]

22/01/2023

Natbound
unfolding the Wild Live
Tigers of Kipling land (Tour 01)
Tour leader - Lester Perera.
Six day tour covers the best of the best Tiger reserves of central India. Kanha and Bandhavgarh
The tour would while concentrating on Tigers will focus on other interesting wildlife and birds unique to both parks.
Minimum 4 packs
Each tour will entertain only four persons only for a much personalized service.
For further information
Contact Lester on - WhatsApp +94(0)716389827
Email - [email protected] or [email protected]

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15/01/2023

Top of the list of moments.
NATBOUND birding and wildlife tours.
In my birding and carrier as a naturalist there has been unforgettable moments. Shruti N and family
From Ladakh to the southern tip of India and from Rajasthan to tinsukia in Assam.
This moment in my own Sri Lanka I would consider would top the list.
The Broad-billed Roller or Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis irisi) is pretty rare and elusive here.
This sighting in Sinharaja Rain Forest on the 11th January was after many years in this zone.

31/12/2022

Out with the old, in with the new. Here’s to a new year, here’s to you!
Happy New Year! 2023 isn’t even ready for you but we are with a blast of new tours

26/12/2022

Seasons greetings
Natbound wishes you all a prosperous 2023
Our intentions for the future is to expand our product portfolio
Await for announcements in the coming future

03/10/2022

Natbound is with Lester Perera
We recognize the hallmark of a good business model by being friendly, honest and being absolutely direct. We at Natbound strictly adhere to ethics of animal welfare and conservation. The elements such as budget, transport, accommodation, friendly courteous service and with utmost knowledge of the targeted subjects must run parallel to each other. The “armamentarium” of Natbound is enormous with partners in India for over two decades and of experience, in many regions where we operate. It is all about our experience, which enables us to furnish an incredibly joyous and fruitful itinerary. Be it any platform with regards to bird watching, wildlife and culture, we can furnish a tour off a plethora of itineraries or curate one.
Email - [email protected] or [email protected]

You can Call - Lester Perera on +94 716389827 or WhatsApp +94 717430419

11/09/2022

Lester Perera is with Natbound

At Natbound, we are passionate on all subjects and absolute in our resolve to make your holiday memorable. Yes, we are firm and bound by the norms and ethics of conservation, we are philosophical about it as well. We are fanatical and love all aspects of the wilds thus the knowledge and experience in wildlife tourism in Sri Lanka and India too.

Email - [email protected] or [email protected]

You can Call - Lester Perera on +94 716389827 or WhatsApp +94 717430419

13/01/2022

Bird watching and wildlife art workshop at Galkadawala Forest Lodge Cultural Triangle Sri Lanka
The workshop focuses on bird identification along with vocalization as an important tool in the field.
Sketching whilst in the field, thereon to painting techniques and usage of different mediums will be included in the agenda.
Birder and bird artist, Lester Perera would personally coach participants.
Contact Lester Perera on +94 716389827 or WhatsApp +94 717430419

01/01/2022

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

24/12/2021

Wish you all a merry Christmas and a hopeful 2022.
Pectoral Sandpiper, Sri Lanka, October 2021.

20/12/2021

Trash birds
Dump sites have always been pretty much great for rarities. Birders frequent quite squalid conditions in locations. Kerawalapitiya has been trending for some fantastic birds in the recent past. I twitched two White wagtail subspecies, the end result was this painting
Ssp personata and ocularis(new to my SL list) was great.
Thank you all who informed me of these rarities

20/11/2021

Natbound

Bird identification and wildlife workshop
An unparalleled experience not to be missed.
Wading birds are possibly the most interesting, cryptic and problematic of birds to observe and identify in the field, likewise, forest birds too can be challenging.
Birder and bird artist, Lester Perera would personally coach participants.

The workshop focuses on identification, vocalization and field note taking and sketching to those who would like to paint birds as well.
Sandpipers, Plovers, Stints and Terns would be our main focus part from other wild encounters.
bird identification workshop at Kulu Safaris Camp (26th to the 29th November).

50,000.00 Per person
(3 night 4-day birding and wildlife holiday. On full board basis and an evening barbecue inclusive of 5 game drives in Land cruiser jeeps).
NOTE - Your own TRANSPORT arrangements would be preferred considering the corvid-19 restrictions and personal safety.

05/11/2021

Natbound

bird identification and wildlife workshop
An unparalleled experience not to be missed.

Wading birds are possibly the most interesting, cryptic and problematic of birds to observe and identify in the field, likewise, forest birds too can be challenging.

Birder and bird artist, Lester Perera would personally coach participants.

The workshop focuses on identification, vocalization and field note taking and sketching to those who would like to paint birds as well.
Sandpipers, Plovers, Stints and Terns would be our main focus part from other wild encounters.

bird identification workshop at Kulu Safaris Camp (26th to the 29th November)

50,000.00 Per person
(3 night 4-day birding and wildlife holiday. On a full board basis and an evening barbecue inclusive of 5 game drives, in Land cruiser jeeps).

NOTE - Your own TRANSPORT arrangements would be preferred considering the corvid-19 restrictions and personal safety.

05/11/2021

Natbound

Bird identification and wildlife workshop
An unparalleled experience not to be missed.

Wading birds are possibly the most interesting, cryptic and problematic of birds to observe and identify in the field, likewise, forest birds too can be challenging.
Birder and bird artist, Lester Perera would personally coach participants.

The workshop focuses on identification, vocalization and field note taking and sketching to those who would like to paint birds as well.
Sandpipers, Plovers, Stints and Terns would be our main focus part from other wild encounters.
bird identification workshop at Kulu Safaris Camp (26th to the 29th November).

50,000.00 Per person
(3 night 4-day birding and wildlife holiday. On full board basis and an evening barbecue inclusive of 5 game drives in Land cruiser jeeps).

NOTE - Your own TRANSPORT arrangements would be preferred considering the corvid-19 restrictions and personal safety.

03/08/2021

Passage to Ladakh

The “land of high passes”, cradled in the high Himalayas Ladakh, is a must to most travellers. No doubt would be in one’s bucket lists as well. Spectacular landscapes dotted with villages of a forgotten era. Its people too are laid back and content by nature. A strategic point on the silk route, Ladakh has had its fair share of conflicts sadly due to mankind’s economic pursuits.

Ladakh is also known as little Tibet or to some “the last Shangri La”. Possibly the most far-flung and sparsely populated region of India. With an astonishing assortment of diverse yet closely bound cultures and harsh weather conditions, is filled with mystic traditions and most peculiar yet interesting. Some consider it to be the last remaining enclave of Mahayana Buddhism its principal religion. The whole region is dotted with some commendable to the ordinary but exquisite gompa’s, shrines and prayer wheels dotted in every nook and crevice, which will certainly enthral visitors beyond perception.

Documented in 1894 by a Russian journalist Nicolas Notovitch mentions as, Jesus had travelled and studied at the Hemis monastery during his lost years (the Life of Saint Issa, Best of the Sons of Men).this is a pretty contentious issue amongst the Christian faith but enigmatic to some as well.

Bon an offshoot of Tibetan Buddhism is considered a cult and is still practised in some parts of Ladakh. It is common knowledge it is from the Tibetan influence in the region though not overly distinct.

Architectural monuments of interest date beyond the 11th century. The ascension to the throne, of Sengge Namgyal in the seventeenth century further created a building boom with some of the finest monuments in Ladakh today.

Interestingly the last nomads of Ladakh the Changtang live and Travers the land in search of grazing pastures in the higher plateaus east of Leh in the regions of Tso Kar and Tso Moriri.

Tso Moriri and Tso Kar are the largest of the high altitude lakes of the Himalayas. No Doubt it is possibly one of the most scenic and filled with awe.

24/07/2021

Anting is a somewhat observed, understood and documented behavioural aspect in ornithology, however attacking and eventual killing of a snake for the purpose of anointing is undocumented.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAVVJiafelk&t=19s

19/06/2021

Natbound
project

The Prickly pear thorn had been bugging me for over three decades. The scourge was a constant concern of mine. Bundala, I have always considered very dear to my heart. My first adventures as a birder there, was in 1981 along with Gehan De Silva Wijeratne , Senaka wijesuriya, Jeevan and Rajan Williams, Kuda Meedeniya and a few more friends. It was then that we witnessed for the first time a turtle nesting on the beach of Bundala. Later that year we together planned out a Sea Turtle conservation program. Subsequently The Natural History Society of St Joseph’s college and St Thomas’s College, along with the assistance of the wildlife Department( Mr. Childers Jayawardena and Mr. Shirly Perera ,were to us of great support and our mentors as well) embarked on the first ever Turtle Hatchery at Bundala. Thus began my love for Bundala, I consider my second home.

After having left school, while I was raising funds for March for Conservation, I was notified of a vacancy at National Aquatic resources Agency (NARA) for a research assistant to work on Sea Turtles. The rest is a long story.

This was the beginning of my fanaticism to eradicate the prickly pear cactus Opuntia stricta (Cactaceae). My search never ended, my recommendation fell on deaf ears and conflicting thoughts were shared with me.
Bundala was and is facing a dire future with the diversion of the excess water from the LUNUGAMVEHERA project along with the taking over of more forest land for development causing further damage to a pristine ecosystem. Another lingering issue, apart from the mentioned is the Prosopis juliflora invasive plant.

The only known remedy to eradicate the cactus was to introduce the well-known Cochineal Bug (Dactylopius Sp), if the cactus is to be controlled. In my literature survey in 2016, I by sheer accident found that the bug existed in Sri Lanka. It was only a hint, and the search began.

The sighting of a single Spoon-billed Sandpiper on the 6th of June 2018 in Mannar by Ravi Dharshana that I was invited to join in the search. On the 27th of July2018 that, I set upon my mission to translocate the Bug to Bundala. It was imperative having discovered the solution to embark on the operation.

Later To my astonishment (as the Literature survey did not end) discovered that the first ever biological control of an invasive plant was conducted here in, then Ceylon back in 1863).

I have subsequently introduced the bug to many other areas in the south, the results are astounding.

17/06/2021

Work in progress
Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher a jewel

14/06/2021

Indian Roller
Love this painting I did

13/06/2021

Indian Scops Owls
takes away my lockdown blues

13/06/2021

Amur Falcon
and let them fly

22/05/2021

22/05/2021

Lesser Yellownape (Picus chlorolophus) consists of nine sub species is widely distributed from northeast Pakistan to china and to India as well as Sri Lanka. Subspecies Wellsi endemic to Sri Lanka and peninsular race (Indian Yellownape) chlorigaster, together is considered by some to be s separate species and may be evaluated in the future.

19/05/2021

Took a few minutes for the first few lines and within an hour. . A done deal

16/05/2021

An Interesting Common Tern at Chilaw Sandspit several years ago

13/05/2021

https://youtu.be/fHjnxYwQmwg

Lester Perera guides you on a virtual journey, exploring the rich and wondrous wildlife of the emerald isle of Sri Lanka, from endemic birds in the island's ...

09/05/2021

The Flying Treasures of Sri Lanka​​​​​​​.A Virtual Visit For Birds & Culture
with Lester Perera & Mohit Aggarwal
Click here to register for this FREE webinar 👇
https://event.webinarjam.com/register/125/l8088unn

Learn more about the birds and culture of Sri Lanka, communities, immersive experiences, and how to travel there.

05/05/2021

For the love of Owls (Indian Scops Owl)🦉🦉🦉

03/05/2021

Adams Bridge (Rama’s Bridge) extending from north western coast of Sri Lanka to South eastern coast of India consists of limestone shoal islands. It is 48 km in extent and suggests a former land connection between Sri Lanka and India.
It was during an agreed ceasefire in 2003, between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan forces, that I had the opportunity to lead a tour there, in order to find the Crab Plover.To my amusement we did find nesting Bridled Terns and Common Terns. The Bridled Tern breeding being the first record and the Common Tern was the second record for the country. Since then I have made several trips to the accessible islands in order to observe and study these birds.
Since then other species have been observed breeding including Sooty, Roseate, and several other species as well.
These images are from a trip I made there several years ago.