Wildlife in Sri Lanka

Wildlife in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, a small and compact country in size, has an incredible wealth of spectacular wildlife both residing and visiting it’s golden shores.

Like so many other countries in the world, Sri Lanka’s wildlife is suffering due to an ever-growing population, whose requirements have resulted in encroachment further into places of wilderness, leading to loss of habitat of many animal species.

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Fortunately however, Sri Lanka has many National Parks where the governing body of the Department of Wildlife, oversees the protection and conservation of, it’s national and natural treasures. Sri Lanka has a long history of regarding animals with a deep respect, and this originates in the country’s 2,500 year old Buddhist beliefs. Back in the 3^rd Century, B.C. the country’s first Buddhist monarch decided, that as Buddhism taught that animals were sacred,  land was to be set aside for their protection, and thus became the  world’s first animal sanctuary.

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Sri Lanka now has approximately 13% of it’s land mass dedicated to the preservation and conservation in the form of National Parks, sanctuaries and wetlands. With today’s use of pesticides, pollution and growing agriculture, it is imperative that Sri Lanka continues to understand the importance of being home to such flora and fauna, most of which is unique to the country.

Wildlife enthusiasts who visit Ceylon, often revel in the knowledge that they may witness the Sri Lankan Leopard, the elusive Sloth Bear and the Asian Elephant roaming free in remote areas of stunning natural beauty. With 91 species of mammals alone living  in the country, Sri Lanka provides a real hotspot of diversity for animal lovers. Sri Lanka’s south eastern Yala National Park, has the highest density of leopards to be found in the world, with confirmed reports of at least one leopard every square kilometers in one area alone. The slow moving Sloth Bear is Sri Lanka’s only bear, and is often heard, rather than seen, as he sucks up insects making an incredible noise whilst doing so. Recent reports estimate that there are approximately 5,800  Asian Elephants living in Sri Lanka. They roam freely around most of the National Parks, with the biggest herds living in Minneriya. A universal wildlife spectacle is The Gathering at Minneriya – for several months each year herds of up to 350 individual elephants gather at a drying riverbed in the Park. This is the planet’s largest gathering of elephants in the wild and has now been rated as # 6 in the world by Lonely Planet’s List of Natural Wonders of the Wildlife World.

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Not only are the lands of Sri Lanka a melting pot of diverse and endemic creatures, so too are the waters surrounding the country’s coastline. On their annual migratory route from the Horn of Africa to the Bay of Bengal, Blue and Sperm Whales can be observed in several locations around the coast. The Blue Whale, possibly the largest creature to ever have inhabited the earth, is one of 26 cetacean species to be found in Sri Lanka’s waters. With so many river systems flowing into the seas, there is a constant supply of nutrients available to allow for ideal food chain conditions. The whales pass through these waters and around the east coast, avoiding the northern Palk Strait as it is too shallow for these majestic creatures who favour deeper waters. Alongside the Blue and Sperm Whales, supersized schools of Spinner Dolphins are regularly sighted.

The treasures are endless – 30 species of bats, 171 species of reptiles, including the Mugger and Saltwater Crocodiles, 82 species of freshwater fish, and with the highest endemism rate in Asia for amphibians, Sri Lanka has it all for animal lovers.

Unique and diverse, Sri Lanka is truly a Garden of Eden for those who are both passionate about nature and it’s magic, and those who care about the protection of the animal and plant kingdoms, which are so special to this planet.

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The Beauty of Indian Ocean

                                          The Beauty of Indian Ocean

The tropical isle of of Sri Lanka boasts numerous beautiful beaches,from charming Unawatuna Bay,lively Hikkaduwa and picturesque Mirissa to secluded Arugam Bay and pristine Nilaiweli.The vast expanses of coral-white sand framed by gentle turquoise waves dotted with fishing boats generate quaint picture-postcard composition.Watch the afternoon sky transform into and artist's palette of orange,yellow and purple hues as the sun quietly skins into the dark waters.

         

 

         

        

Beach - East Coast

           If Sri Lanka is serendipity,beach lovers will find lots of it on the east coast.The coastline here is uneven with many bays and sheltered coves.The east coast has to offer some of the best beaches in Sri Lanka, unspoilt and pristine, extending from Arugam Bay in the south to the Nilaveli Beach in the East.

Arugam Bay

Is the southern most beach resort of the eastern coast.It is a very popular surfing center ranked 3rd among the best twenty beaches of the world by the British Surfers Association.It is situated in close proximity to Lahugala National Park - Famous for elephants, Pottuvil Lgoon - A bird watchers paradise & Kumana Bird Sanctuary.A road from here also leads down the coast to Panama and Okanda, gateway to Yala East National Park making it also a wild life bluff's delight ! many guesthouses and a few hotels have sprung up on the shore of the Bay around the fishing village.Arugam Bay has once again turned into the surfing hotspot that it was and features many international surfing competitions annually.  

                              

Hikkaduwa

Among the coastal side tourist attractions in Sri Lanka Hikkaduwa beach has a special place for its exquisite white sands and uniquely beautiful corals that has lured many visitors and tourists to take a glimpse at the marvels that can be seen in full abundance. Magnificent corals and tropical fishes are the top priorities in this highly popular beach location and being the only marine life sanctuary in Sri Lanka it is also a fine and rich place to explore the bio diversity and marine life of this beautiful tropical island. White sans glistening under the warm sun shine sure has made the place have a captivating effect on tourists and visitors. Pristine in nature Hikkaduwa beach is the ideal place for the visitor who is in search of peace of mind and relaxation enjoying sun and sand.