Safari Or Spectacle? Inside Yala’s Wildlife Credibility Crisis
Keyshanie Edmund
May 28, 2026
Safari or Spectacle? Inside Yala’s Wildlife Credibility Crisis
Are Sri Lanka’s safari guides protecting wildlife—or profiting from it?
In Yala National Park, a place meant to safeguard some of the country’s most iconic species, troubling questions are emerging. From speeding vehicles to overcrowding animals for the perfect sighting, concerns are growing that conservation ethics are being overshadowed by competition and tourist demand.
This short video explores a deeper issue: when those entrusted with protecting wildlife are incentivized to break the rules, who holds the system accountable? Featuring perspectives from authorities, safari drivers, and tourism stakeholders, this story looks beyond the surface—into the fragile balance between conservation and commercial gain. Because protecting wildlife should never come at the cost of exploiting it.
This story was produced as part of the Earth Journalism Network (EJN) Fellowship, supporting in-depth reporting on environmental issues and sustainable development.
Link to Story – https://youtube.com/shorts/ZhCTfxwfzec?si=Hw9oIcY0QcD9E3FY
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