Extinct Tree Species Rediscovered in Sri Lanka Through Facebook Post

Extinct Tree Species Rediscovered in Sri Lanka Through Facebook Post

By
Casey Lee

Publish Date:September 23, 2025

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📰 The quick summary: A plant species thought to be extinct in the wild since 2012 was rediscovered in Sri Lanka through a social media post, enabling conservation efforts that have already produced hundreds of new saplings.
📈 One key stat: More than 250 saplings of the rediscovered pini-beraliya tree have been raised in a nursery established by Dilmah Conservation, helping to restore a species once declared extinct in the wild.
💬 One key quote: “We have this tree in our village,” declared a villager from Ratnapura district on Facebook in 2018, unknowingly starting the revival of a species thought lost forever.

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1️⃣ The big picture: A remarkable rediscovery has brought a species back from the brink of extinction in Sri Lanka. The towering pini-beraliya tree (Doona ovalifolia) was officially declared extinct in the wild in 2012, with only one cultivated specimen remaining at the Royal Botanic Gardens. Thanks to a chance Facebook post in 2018, where a villager claimed to have seen these trees, botanists investigated and confirmed wild populations still existed near rivers and streams. Since then, two additional populations have been discovered, giving hope for the species’ survival.

2️⃣ Why is this good news: This rediscovery represents more than just saving a single tree species. As a keystone species in Sri Lanka’s lowland rainforests, the pini-beraliya’s return helps sustain entire ecosystems and their biodiversity. Conservation efforts have already shown promising results with hundreds of saplings being raised in a dedicated nursery. Local engagement has been impressive, with schoolchildren in Ayagama village planting seedlings and developing a sense of pride in their natural heritage. The story demonstrates that even species declared extinct can sometimes be recovered when modern communication tools connect citizen observers with scientific expertise.

3️⃣ What’s next: Botanists continue to search for additional wild populations of the pini-beraliya tree. Dilmah Conservation plans to expand their nursery program to increase the number of saplings available for reforestation efforts. Scientists are studying the ecological requirements of the rediscovered populations to ensure optimal conditions for the species’ long-term survival in the wild.

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Read the full story here: Mongabay – Extinct-in-the-wild plant rediscovered in Sri Lanka thanks to social media

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