Katharina Raaben is the Head Naturalist at Uga Ulagalla, a position she has held since 2020. Fascinated by animals and wildlife since childhood, she credits Heinz Sielmann – the “German David Attenborough”, according to Katharina – with inspiring this lifelong passion. She firmly believes that there is nothing better than walking in nature, wherever in the world one might be.
The Work of Katharina Raaben
As part of her role at Uga Ulagalla she is responsible for overseeing the resort’s conservation efforts, observing and monitoring the local wildlife and educating guests and the team on the importance of protecting these native species and their habitat. Uga Ulagalla is set withing a 58-acre estate near the ancient city of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka’s famous cultural triangle.
In 2020, she set up the award-winning Elephant Research Centre (ERC) at Uga Ulagalla. In efforts to conserve the elephant population in Sri Lanka, she leads a well-trained team of individuals, in-house guides and members of the local community. Guests of the resort can visit the centre to learn about Sri Lankan elephants and the research work of the ERC.
Her work at the ERC cannot be understated, as she has discovered amazing and never-before-seen findings on the migration patterns of elephants in the area. One step at a time, she is helping humanity learn more about these absolutely majestic creatures. Though Sri Lankan natives are in conflict with the indigenous elephants, she is determined to harmonise both humans and elephants peacefully in nature’s choir.
Human-elephant conflict (HEC) is a major danger to both humans and elephants in Sri Lanka. In 2022, humans killed over 320 elephants, and elephants killed 70 humans. This is for a multitude of reasons, but the root of all of these reasons is a lack of education and information on elephants. The cost of life due to HEC is much too grand, and Katharina is one of the main educators, trackers, and researchers for elephants at Ulagalla.
Her team works in private with Doctor Prithiviraj Fernando, a man who has dedicated his life to elephants. They gather the information, and the Doctor then identifies and determines their habitats. This information holds such value because if the habits and habitats of an elephant herd can be understood, then various preventative measures can also be set up to reduce instances of HEC.
Katharina is overseeing this entire operation of boots-on-the-ground tracking, and without her and the various members of her team of native Sri Lankans and Uga-commissioned rangers, then lives would literally be on the line. Once again, the significance of her work at ERC cannot be understated.
Katharina’s Work and Life Before the ERC
Raaben had worked at a German retail company for about 12 years, and travelled all over the world. There was a point, however, when she decided that she needed something more fulfilling in her life. She had experienced luxury, now she was ready to experience a challenge, and a desire to explore.
By way of chance, she found herself in South Africa, volunteering in wildlife research and relocation. Not only that, but she also completed just shy of 500 hours of on-foot guiding within dangerous game areas of Kruger National Park. During this time, she achieved a number of guiding and wildlife qualifications, including certifications in tracking and signing, firearm rifle proficiency, wilderness first aid, birding, trail guiding and more. This experience in South Africa was epiphanic for Katharina, and decided on her flight back to Germany that this line of work was where her soul belonged.
After only a week in Germany, she made her way back to Africa where she solely focused on her work. During this time, her love for elephants also grew. She describes her own relationship with elephants as a spiritual one, of humility and complete awe at the sight of the majestic creatures.
Uga Ulagalla
Owned by the Uga Escapes, the award-winning Uga Ulagalla is a 25-villa five-star resort. It’s set within an expansive 58-acre estate near the ancient city of Anuradhapura, in Sri Lanka’s famous cultural triangle. Surrounded by natural woodland, a 150-year-old mansion house serves as the resort’s pièce de resistance, having been the ancestral seat of Anuradhapura nobility.
Each thatch-roofed villa compliments the natural environment. Every villa features its own pool and decking area looking out onto the lush greenery beyond. These villas use environmentally friendly durra straw for a rustic-chic aesthetic.
Serving as a sumptuous base from which to explore Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle, Uga Ulagalla can arrange an array of adventures for guests. From witnessing the fifth largest elephant gathering in the world at Minneriya National Park and leopard and sloth-spotting at Wilpattu National Park to excursions to the Sigiriya rock fortress, there are endless opportunities for adventure. Back at the resort, guests can indulge in nature walks, enjoy horse-riding, kayaking and archery, or partake in a Sri Lankan cooking class.
To discover more, visit ugaescapes.com
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All imagery courtesy of Uga Escapes / Katharina Raaben.