Small Cat Advocacy and Research (SCAR)

What Small Cat Advocacy and Research (SCAR) does

Small Cat Advocacy and Research (SCAR) is a Sri Lankan non-profit conservation organization founded in 2017 and headquartered in Kandy, Central Province. It is the country's only dedicated entity focused on the conservation of three lesser-known small wild cat species — the Fishing Cat, Jungle Cat, and Rusty-spotted Cat — as well as associated small mammals and habitats. The organization operates without a physical office, employing 9 staff and field team members led by Co-founders Anya Ratnayaka (Urban Wildlife Program Director) and Ashan Thudugala (Carnivore Conservation Director), with a PhD-level advisory board. Its work spans scientific research, species conservation, and education and awareness, with field operations concentrated in urban wetland ecosystems around Colombo and the Central Province hill country.

SCAR's programmatic portfolio is built around six core offerings: (1) Urban Wetland Walks, bi-monthly guided excursions priced at $5 for Sri Lankan citizens and $16.50 for foreign nationals; (2) the Young Wildlife Biologist Starter Course, a six-month educational course for teenagers aged 11-15 with an LKR 1,000 sponsored registration fee (against LKR 15,000 full cost); (3) a Citizen Science Sighting Report Program hosted at save.cat; (4) Scientific Research Services using camera trapping, scat analysis, ArcGIS, and NDVI tools; (5) Species Conservation Programs including road sign placement and threat mitigation; and (6) Education and Awareness Campaigns including the #saynotobushmeat initiative. The organization produces peer-reviewed publications and operates a multi-channel presence across website, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

SCAR's funding model is multi-source, relying on individual donations via PayPal (one-time and monthly recurring), grants from international conservation foundations (Rufford Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Network, UNDP GEF, Shared Earth Foundation, Lanka Nature Fund, Fishing Cat Fund, Houston Zoo, Cincinnati Zoo, Zoological Society), corporate partnerships (Greensphere), and program fees. US-based donations flow through Wild Oasis, a registered 501c3 fiscal sponsor. Distribution is exclusively direct — via its own website, Google Forms registration, and citizen-science platforms — with no third-party reseller or channel partner model. Customer segments span individuals, teenagers, local communities, wildlife enthusiasts, and government stakeholders including the Department of Wildlife Conservation and Urban Development Authority.

Name

Small Cat Advocacy and Research (SCAR)

Legal name

Small Cat Advocacy and Research

Website

https://scar.lk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SCAR is a Sri Lankan non-profit founded in 2017 dedicated to conserving the country's lesser-known small wild cat species — Fishing Cat, Jungle Cat, and Rusty-spotted Cat — through scientific research, citizen science, conservation programs, and public education, serving local communities, youth, wildlife enthusiasts, and government stakeholders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation & Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation (BPAGAIAI), Threatened & Endangered Species (TES) / Protected Species Surveys & Compliance (EUAHAHAD)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation research
• Small wild cats
• Urban wetland conservation
• Citizen science programs
• Conservation education

Headquarters

HQ city

Colombo

HQ country

Sri Lanka

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Online donations via PayPal with options for one-time or monthly recurring contributions. Donors can support specific projects or the general SCAR fund.
2. Program Fees: Revenue from paid programs including Urban Wetland Walks ($5-$16.50 per person) and Young Wildlife Biologist Starter Course (LKR 1,000 registration fee).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SCAR conducts scientific research, species conservation, and education programs dedicated to protecting Sri Lanka's lesser-known small wild cats (fishing cat, jungle cat, rusty-spotted cat) and small mammals. The organization delivers ecological research using camera trapping and scat analysis, practical conservation actions such as road-sign placement and invasive species removal in urban wetlands, and public-facing programs including bi-monthly Urban Wetland Walks, a Young Wildlife Biologist Starter Course for youth, and a citizen science sighting-reporting platform.

Product overview

Small Cat Advocacy and Research (SCAR) is a non-profit conservation organization established in 2017, offering a portfolio of interconnected programs focused on protecting Sri Lanka's small wild cats (fishing cat, jungle cat, rusty-spotted cat), small mammals, and their habitats. The organization operates six core program areas: Urban Wetland Walks providing bi-monthly guided educational excursions; the Young Wildlife Biologist Starter Course for youth aged 11-15 combining Zoom theory and field workshops; a Citizen Science Sighting Report Program enabling public contribution to distribution data; Scientific Research Services conducting ecological studies; Species Conservation Programs implementing threat mitigation; and Education and Awareness Campaigns including the bushmeat awareness initiative. These programs work synergistically, using research findings to inform conservation actions and education to build community support for species protection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Urban Fishing Cat Conservation Project: A project led by Anjallee Prabhakaran focused on the conservation of fishing cats in Colombo's urban wetlands through bi-monthly Urban Wetland Walks and research activities.
• Save Fishing Cat Conservation Project
• Young Wildlife Biologist Starter Course
• Urban Wetland Invasive Species Removal Program

Products and services

• Urban Wetland Walks

Quantifiable outcome

• 28 fishing cat records documented in Central Province study
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wild OasiscoreOthersWild Oasis serves as SCAR's registered non-profit fiscal sponsor in the USA. It is a US 501c3 organization (Registration #46-1024809) that provides safe haven to small wild cats rescued or with special needs. 100% of donations received are sent directly to SCAR and its projects.
• Leopocon Sri LankacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner collaborating with SCAR on the #saynotobushmeat awareness campaign to shed light on illegal wildlife trade and create awareness to curb bushmeat consumption.
• Parrotfish CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental collective partnering with SCAR and Leopocon on the bushmeat awareness campaign to address illegal wildlife trade issues.
• Rainforest Protectors of Sri LankaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint lecture series collaboration where John Wilson of Rainforest Protectors conducted open discussions on lowland tropical and sub-montane rainforests with SCAR for World Rainforest Day 2021.
• Nature Conservation by RukmalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing facilitators for the Young Wildlife Biologist Starter Course 2025, including Rukmal Ratnayake as a resource person.
• Greensphere (Pvt) LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner co-organizing the Young Wildlife Biologist Starter Course 2025 for youth conservation education.
• Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment conservation partner, the primary authority for wildlife protection in Sri Lanka. SCAR works with DWC for species and habitat conservation efforts.
• Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance (FCCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational conservation alliance dedicated to fishing cat protection globally, working with SCAR on shared conservation goals.
• PantheracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational wild cat conservation organization partnering with SCAR for small cat protection initiatives.
• Small Cat Conservation Collaborative (SCCF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative network of organizations working on small wild cat conservation worldwide.
• Big Cat RescueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBig cat sanctuary organization with shared conservation mission for feline species protection.
• The Aspinall FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation foundation focused on animal welfare and wildlife protection projects.
• Houston ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZoological institution with wildlife conservation programs supporting species protection initiatives.
• Cincinnati ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZoological conservation organization partnering on wildlife protection efforts.
• Urban Development AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment authority SCAR collaborates with for urban conservation planning in Sri Lanka.
• Sri Lanka Land Development CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment corporation involved in land development projects with conservation implications for wildlife habitats.
• RewildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRewilding organization supporting ecosystem restoration and conservation initiatives.
• Tertiary Limestone Legacy (TLT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner with specific focus on limestone ecosystem protection.
• Axe Valley ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation project organization supporting wildlife protection efforts.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation: International foundation dedicated exclusively to conservation of small wild cat species—directly parallel mission to SCAR but at global rather than Sri Lanka-specific scope, with overlapping research and grant-making functions.
• Rewild: Rewilding-focused organization with deep expertise in small wild cat conservation; Advisor Jim Sanderson is affiliated with Rewild and provides technical guidance to SCAR on conservation practice.
• Wild Oasis: US-based 501(c)(3) that operates a small wild cat sanctuary and serves as SCAR's fiscal sponsor; directly linked through shared species focus and donor infrastructure.
• Small Cat Conservation Collaborative: Network of organizations dedicated to small wild cat conservation worldwide. SCAR participates as a core member, sharing scientific methodology and threat-mitigation frameworks across range states.
• Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance: Alliance focused specifically on fishing cat protection across range countries; a core partner of SCAR and the most directly comparable organization operating in the same niche species.

Regional players

• The Aspinall Foundation: Conservation foundation with field programs in Asia and Africa focused on species and habitat protection; partner of SCAR with comparable education, awareness, and in-situ conservation programs.

Broad incumbents

• Wildlife Conservation Network: Venture-philanthropy style NGO that funds wildlife conservation projects globally, including SCAR-supported work; broader species and geographic mandate but overlapping funder role and conservation partner profile.
• Big Cat Rescue: Feline-focused conservation and education organization with sanctuary operations; broader geographic and species footprint than SCAR but aligned mission on cat protection and education.
• Panthera: The leading global wild cat conservation organization; covers all wild cats including small cats through its Small Cat Program, with far larger budget and global footprint than SCAR but overlapping species focus.
• Wildlife Conservation Society: Major international conservation organization with field programs across Asia including Sri Lanka; broader mandate but comparable research, education, and policy advocacy functions in wildlife protection.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCL1XYurTPIP5Cs-clrulboQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/smallcatadvocacy
• Instagraminstagram.com/smallcatadvocacy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/small-cat-advocacy-and-research-scar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Small Cat Advocacy and Research (SCAR)