Activities

Embark is an organization dedicated to improving the well-being of street dogs through its rescue and rehoming initiatives whilst managing the population and preventing rabies through sterilization and vaccination programs across the country. Most of the rescues and treating of the injured are focused in the western province of Sri Lanka, but we do try our best to reach as many as we can in other areas. Embark has been at the forefront, influencing policy in relation to animals and playing a vital role in making a significant change in the lives of animals and people alike.

The Otara Foundation continues to prioritise animal rights in Sri Lanka. The Foundation works with the governments, law firms, special interest groups and communities to raise awareness, all encompassed under the overarching mandate of Compassion.

Since its inception, the Foundation has championed the Animal Welfare Bill, much needed legislation that has still not passed into law. Sri Lanka currently has very few laws in place to adequately protect animals in zoos, domestic pets, or abandoned/lost wildlife. A dedicated and public campaigner for effective laws that reflect or advance the values of a progressive society, the Otara Foundation is focused on its vision for animal welfare and the ethical treatment of wildlife in Sri Lanka, driving change on behalf of the voiceless.

The Otara Foundation collaborates with its accredited partners to promote large and medium-scale reforestation projects in Sri Lanka.

In addition, because it is the Foundation's mandate that every life matters and every little effort is a step in the right direction, we support and promote smaller individual initiatives in reforestation and replanting.

Otara Foundation's track record places us in the unique position of facilitating, sponsoring and fund-raising conservation projects throughout the island. The Foundation works with recognised, respected conservation-based organisations throughout Sri Lanka.

Our interests in conservation take a two-fold approach: Activism and Awareness.

Conservation is a science — and Sri Lanka is fortunate to have some of the world's experts working for change in this island rich in bio-diversity. Collaborating with many and working in the areas of Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC), national park protection, opposing deforestation and standing up against irresponsible development in sanctuaries, strict nature reserves and protected areas throughout the island, the Foundation maximises its impact through the strategic allocation of its resources.

Major partners and collaborations include the Environmental Foundation Limited (EFL), Rainforest Protectors of Sri Lanka, and Reforest Sri Lanka — supporting investigations, legal actions and community-based environmental organisations across the country.

Kwita Izina is a traditional naming ceremony introduced in 2005 to raise awareness on conservation efforts. The Government of Rwanda, through the Rwanda Development Board, has achieved great success in protecting the endangered mountain gorilla population — working diligently with conservation partners, the private sector and the community to conserve their natural habitat.

As a result of Kwita Izina and other conservation efforts, the population of endangered mountain gorillas had increased to 604 in 2016, up from 480 in 2010 and the region's low of 242 in 1981.

Otara Gunewardene was invited as an honorary guest by the Rwandan Government, as one of 25 international celebrities, to name a baby gorilla at the national Kwita Izina ceremony — celebrating the importance of conservation and sustainable tourism in protecting Africa's rare and endangered wildlife.

The Otara Foundation has become increasingly concerned as to the nutritional health of the general population of Sri Lanka. Too often, the public's source of information on nutrition originates from the misleading mass-media marketing strategies of processed food manufacturers. The Foundation has invested in infomercials and programming that promote a natural, localised diet, using its social media reach to broadcast the numerous health benefits of living in tropical paradise.

The Foundation does not encourage the consumption of animal products, in line with progressive global thought that recognises livestock manufacture as a primary cause of environmental destruction, the inhumane nature of factory farming, and the regulated and unregulated use of hormones and antibiotics in food.

The Animal Welfare Bill championed by the Foundation contains provisions that regulate the livestock trade, but lobbying by vested interests continues to delay its passage to law.

A long-running TV series exploring traditional Sri Lankan herbal medicine, indigenous plants, and natural remedies — now five seasons strong.

Sri Lanka has a national waste management crisis. While the Otara Foundation has been funding, sponsoring and participating in beach clean-ups across the island on a regular basis, we believe this damage-control measure fails to address the overall problem of poor waste management practices, particularly in rural areas.

Our focus is to find and support effective recycling processes, while investigating the accountability of industries indiscriminately creating non-biodegradable waste.

Following the 2017 Meethotumulla tragedy, the Foundation noted with considerable concern the significant biological and storage problems of other landfill sites in Karadiyana and Muthurajawela. A global problem, evidenced easily on Sri Lanka's beaches, protected areas and places of worship — the Foundation calls for better practices to manage Sri Lanka's waste more effectively.

The Foundation invests in supporting locally manufactured art, craft, clothing and lifestyle accessories. Through the retail reach of 12 (and expanding) Embark stores islandwide, the Foundation features and sells local craft and sustainable design — increasingly moving toward an entirely 'Made in Sri Lanka' platform.

Deploying Founder Otara Gunewardene's wide social media reach, the Foundation draws attention to national disasters and undertakes emergency relief wherever possible, collaborating with experienced aid organisations on the ground.

Embark, together with Best Care Animal Hospital, carried out a vaccination and treatment program in Aranayake from the 21st to the 27th of July. The programme was funded by the Fondation Brigitte Bardot. The team was able to vaccinate 2,000+ owned and roaming street dogs and provide treatment for more than 200. We are thankful to the government officials — the Regional Director of Health Services, the MOH, and the PHIs — of the area, for supporting us in making the programme a success.

Sri Lanka experienced a torrential downpour on the 15th of May, which left many parts of the country adversely affected: houses destroyed, lives lost, and people and animals stranded. While army personnel worked on rescuing the people, Embark, Best Care Animal Hospital and a few other rescue organisations worked on saving the lives of animals. We were able to rescue 35 dogs and pups, later reunited with their owners. Rescues were carried out in Kaduwela, Angoda, Wellampitiya and Kotikawatte.

The Foundation believes in the talented human resources of Sri Lanka. We support and encourage start-ups and sustainable, environmentally sensitive businesses. Otara Gunewardene is often celebrated as Chief Guest, recognised for her entrepreneurial spirit, and spends much time speaking publicly and inspiring the next generations on responsible business development and opportunity in Sri Lanka.

Bringing conservation, animal welfare and ethical thinking into classrooms and lecture halls — from preschools to universities.