Wildlife

Sri Lanka Completes Elephant Census

Aug 15th

Sri Lanka has just completed the first nationwide survey of its elephant population, aimed at better protecting the animals and their habitat.

Thousands of volunteers counted the elephants from watchtowers at 1,500 watering holes and ancient irrigation lakes. Elephants are classified age and sex, and more knowledge is sought on their movements and distribution.

This is the driest time of year in Sri Lanka, and animals are at their most thirsty, so come to drink in more open habitats in large numbers, sometimes bringing them into conflict with the people. The conflict between farmers and free-ranging wild elephants results in dozens of human and elephant deaths each year and finding solutions is necessary to.

A welcome return to Wilpattu – Sri Lanka’s largest national park

Feb 15th

Posted by Ayanthi Samarajewa in Activities

3 comments

I have not been out in the jungles for a while due to an uncommonly rainy spell, so when Wilpattu, Sri Lanka’s largest national park, was reopeaned t the public I had to get my jungle dose. The lovely Anawila bungalow was going to be our base for 3 days. I had heard great things about this bungalow, which is only 1 km from the park entrance, and was really looking forward to staying here.

Morningside, Sinharaja… A true heaven on earth!

May 24th

Posted by Ayanthi Samarajewa in Accommodation

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I have long dreamt of the day I would get a chance to visit the eastern part of the famous Sinharaja Rainforest. Since access to this section is quite remote with a 4WD jeep is a must and the only place to stay being a forest department bungalow, getting there has been a challenge. However, thanks to some friends who got together and planned the trip, my long awaited dream was realised.

The entire forest complex of Sinharaja is currently considered as an International Man and Biosphere reserve. It has also been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The majority of its land area is lowlands. However, a small but a significant proportion spreads across higher altitudes. To be more precise, the eastern part of the Sinharaja MAB reserve falls within the sub-montane region of Sri Lanka. Despite the exceedingly small land coverage, the Eastern Sinharaja is extremely rich in biodiversity and endemism.