Minneriya National Wildlife Park , Sri Lanka

Minneriya National Wildlife Park , Sri Lanka
Located between Habarana and POLONNARUWA, the 8890 hectares of MINNERIYA NATIONAL PARK is an ideal eco tourism location in Sri Lanka . The park consists of mixed evergreen forest and scrub areas and is home to Sri Lanka 's favourites such as sambar deer, leopards and elephants. However the central feature of the park is the ancient Minneriya Tank (built in 3rdcentury AD by King Mahasena). During the dry season (June to September), this tank is an incredible place to observe the elephants who come to bathe and graze on the grasses as well as the huge flocks of birds (cormorants and painted storks to name but a few) that come to fish in the shallow waters. Read more about Minneriya National Park
History and the Description of the Minnariya National Park: A flapping sea of black invades the emerald Minneriya Tank, as a flock of two thousand cormorants nosedive for fish. The elephants too, trudge by drinking from the same reservoir. Not close to being the largest tank in Sri Lanka , Minneriya Tank - with the woods that surround it forming the Minneriya-Giritale National Park - is nevertheless home to an extraordinary diversity of wildlife. If numbers interest you, there are nine species of amphibians, 24 species of mammals, 25 species of reptiles, 26 species of fish (three of which are endangered), 75 species of butterflies and 160 species of birds. Making your way through the park, you will see elephants, Spotted Deer and also the Sambar, which is a deer with no spots and an apt scientific name, carves unicolor . If you're lucky, a leopard looking for food might cross your path.   Less menacing but equally intriguing are the frogs and lizards with their tongues ready. Among the reptiles, the Red-lipped Lizard and Skink are both endemic to Sri Lanka as well as endangered. The frogs, on the other hand, are more abundantly present and have a tendency to jump over your feet or across your eyes between leaves. A notable example with a formidable but misleading title is the Sri Lanka Greater Hourglass Tree Frog. It all sounds like there's such a lot to see at the park. But overhead is where the action really is. Sri Lanka , home to over 400 species of birds, has long been a birdwatcher's paradise. In Minneriya National Park alone, 160 species crowd the trees or strut the banks. You can afford to miss the Painted Storks, Great White Pelican, Gray Herons, and even the Ruddy Turnstones (whatever those are). But do try to spot the Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Sri Lanka Brown-capped Babbler and Sri Lanka Gray Hornbill, because, as you can guess from their names, nowhere else are you going to find them but here, in Sri Lanka. Even if you're not a bird enthusiast, at least you can boast about your trip later by throwing around some exotic bird-names.
Press Reviews ‘Spectacular’ coverage for The Gathering By: Malaka Rodrigo,Sunday Times Sunday July 17,2011 International travel guide puts Minneriya wildlife phenomenon among the world’s top wildlife treats. Malaka Rodrigo reports Sri Lanka's image as a nature-based tourist destination has been given a boost by the internationally acclaimed travel guide Lonely Planet, which has named the "elephant gathering" of Minneriya as one of the world's "10 greatest wildlife spectaculars." 'The Gathering' is the name given to the elephants that assemble on the banks of the Minneriya Reservoir during the dry season. Every evening, between 150 and 200 elephants arrive at the reservoir, mainly to graze the grasses growing on the tank bed. During the drought, the water level drops, revealing a tank bed that allows the grass to grow. The elephants turn to these much needed fodder at a time when foliage in other areas dry up. The Minneriya reservoir also becomes a playground where the elephants can satisfy their water needs. The Gathering peaks in August and September, at the height of the drought. According to wildlife authorities, the Minneriya gathering is the largest grouping of wild Asian elephants at any given time. This congregation of elephants probably goes back centuries, but it was only recently that the phenomenon was considered a potential tourist attraction, thanks to Srilal Miththapala and Gehan de Silva Wijerathne, who promote wildlife tourism in Sri Lanka. Five years ago they branded the wildlife event as The Gathering, and it has been drawing a growing number of visitors since. The sad news, however, is that The Gathering may be threatened. If a plan to retain the Minneriya waters in the dry season is carried out, the temporary grasslands on the bed of the Minneriya tank would disappear, and the number of elephant visitors would decline. This would affect the area's elephant population, which depends on the temporary grassland as fodder in the dry season. The baby elephants would be especially seriously affected. That The Gathering has gained international recognition as a nature "spectacular" may help in lobbying for keep the Minneriya tank for the elephants. The popularity of the wildlife event has also created problems for itself. During the months of The Gathering, the Minneriya park is crowded with safari jeeps, which often block the elephants' way to the tank. Wildlife activists say there is a need to monitor the safari jeep traffic and manage visitor behaviour to minimize inconvenience to the elephants. The Gathering ranks sixth on the Lonely Planet wildlife spectaculars list. The list includes famous nature events such as the great wildebeest migration in Serengeti; brown bears feasting in Alaska; the penguin rookery in the Atlantic, the Monarch butterfly migration in Mexico; orca feeding in Argentina, starling roosting in England, and the salmon run in South Africa. Lanka herded with world’s best nature treats Lonely Planet’s 10 Greatest Wildlife Spectacles 1. Látrabjarg bird cliffs, Iceland 2. Monarch butterfly roosts, Mexico 3. King Penguin rookery, South Atlantic 4. Great migration, Serengeti, Tanzania 5. Brown bears feasting, Alaska, USA 6. Elephant gathering, Sri Lanka 7. Bats of Dear Cave, Sarawak, Malaysia 8. Orca feeding, Valdés Peninsula, Argentina 9. Starlings roosting, Somerset, England 10. Sardine run, South Africa Let us not make this majestic gathering a thing of the past (Sri Lanka) By Srilal Miththapala, Sunday Times August 24, 2008 It is late afternoon. The open plains of the giant Minneriya reservoir gradually cool as the sun slowly glides down to the horizon. The waters of the reservoir shimmer in the receding sunlight. Slowly from the surrounding scrub jungle a large dark shadow appears. The first matriarch slowly ambles on to the open plains, followed by her family group. They slowly disperse around and start grazing on the lush grass shoots growing on the damp earth, exposed by the receding water of the reservoir. As if on cue, more dark shadows emerge, as matriarchs lead their herds out. In a short while there are over a hundred elephants, large and small, ‘strewn’ all over the plains, eating, playing, jostling , drinking , bathing…... The Gathering has begun. A unique world phenomenon : A high concentration of elephants in a small area The Gathering takes place every year usually from about mid July until October, coinciding with the dry season in the North Central/Eastern Province. With the drought, the available water resources in the area dry up, limiting the available water for the large number of wild elephants in the area. A fully grown elephant usually would require about 100 litres of water per day and therefore, accessibility to a good source of water is vital to the elephant’s survival. The Minneriya Tank or reservoir in the North Central Province covering approximately 8,900 hectares was constructed by King Mahasen in the 3rd century AD, fills up during the North –East monsoon. As the rains cease and the dry season begins, the drought takes it toll, and the water in the reservoir starts to dry up. Although the reservoir shrinks dramatically, it never really runs dry. As the water has recedes, it leaves behind fertile, moist soil, where lush grass quickly sprouts. The entire reservoir is surrounded by scrub jungle, which opens out into the vast plains of the Minneriya tank. This provides an ideal and unique refuge for elephants during the dry season, where there is an abundant source of water, with nutritious grasslands, and also a readymade jungle cover, to retreat to, when the noonday sun becomes too hot. This is what really causes the now famous ‘Gathering’ of elephants at Minneriya. It is not a migration, but really a ‘coming together’ of a number of different herds of wild elephants from the surrounding areas of the North Central Province. It is surmised that elephants from the Wasgomuwa park, and from far-off areas such as Kantale, make this annual visit. This is indeed a unique phenomena, not seen anywhere else in the world -such a high concentration of wild elephantsin such a small area. There are large numbers of juveniles in these herds and a smaller number of mature male elephants can also be sighted, the most famous of which is the adolescent young tusker, and two mature tuskers, one with a single tusk, frequently seen among the congregating herds. The gathering of elephants at Minneriya is therefore a wonderful opportunity for the wild life enthusiast and casual traveller to watch and observe the social dynamics of elephants at leisure. Realising the potential of this unique event, Sri Lanka Tourism has now embarked on a campaign to popularize and publicize this event. Already thousands of visitors are rushing to view this magnificent sight, and if properly managed and publicized, this could eventually become as popular and well-known the world over as the Masai Mara Wildebeest migration. The Gathering’s popularity is seen from the visitor statistics of the Minneriya park. Foreign visitor arrivals to the park up to June this year showed a 43% increase from last year, with park entrance revenue going up to Rs.3.1M from Rs.2.1M for the same period last year ( Department of Wild Life Conservation figures). The temporary closure of Yala and Uda Walawe for a short period may have had an effect, but there is no doubt that ‘The Gathering’ is now fast gathering momentum! However, the downside is that the Minneriya Park administration is not geared to manage this large influx of visitors. On weekends, it is a common sight to see 25-30 jeeps entering the park, many without trackers due to the shortage of staff. The open plains of the Minneriya Wev Pitiya have no clear demarcated routes, and jeep drivers, greedy for tips from the foreign visitors, often drive all over the grasslands to get a better and closer view of the elephants. This disrupts the elephants’ feeding, as well as their movements towards the water, also damaging the rich grasslands. The Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) along with many of the leading hotels in the area is planning a training session for trackers, as well as the jeep drivers to educate them of the importance of protecting the wildlife and not disturbig it. It is important that they understand that we humans are the trespassers, who are invading the elephants’ territory. Concerted and urgent effort is therefore necessary - otherwise the disruption and stress caused to the elephants would soon result in them seeking greener pastures and we would have killed the ‘goose that lays the golden egg’ - and The Gathering will be no more.
GATHER, ONE & ALL - WANDERLUST - Writer Lizzie Matthews discovers Minneriya Elephant Gathering.
To be guaranteed a viewing of Sri Lanka 's wild elephant population I needed to head north, to Minneriya National Park , venue for the second event in my social diary. This was to be a bit special - a natural assembly of up to 300 elephants that congregate around the shores of Minneriya Tank in the dry season to bathe, drink and feast on the emerald grass around its edge. Known simply as The Gathering, this is the largest congregation of wild Asian elephants in the world -yet hardly anyone knows about it. The sun's heat was waning as we headed out into the park, the dry, crunchy undergrowth and deep-red earth a sharp contrast to the lush greens of the Knuckles. Nadeera, a softly spoken naturalist, sat next to me in the jeep as we bumped along. "There's no point getting here earlier,"he explained. "It's only in the cool of the evening that the elephants come out from the shade of the jungle." As we chugged out of the forest, Minneriya Tank appeared before us, a shining mirror that glinted out into horizon so I couldn't tell where lake finished and golden plains began. A fish eagle rode the thermals above the water, scanning for food, while a small mongoose darted across the grass between the myriad mounds of... yes, there it was... elephant dung. It peppered the plains like the world's worst molehill problem and there, in its midst, plodded its makers a solemn but beautiful band of grey walking slowly towards the lake like giant iron filings being drawn to a magnet. Splashes of white danced between their legs - opportunistic egrets trying to catch the cloud of insects being kicked up by the herd. "Can you make out the different families?" asked Nadeera. We drove a bit closer and cut the engine. What had seemed like one giant group from a distance was actually made up of smaller family units, each with its own youngsters, mothers and dominating matriarch. The more I watched, the more I noticed - playful teenagers bumping into the legs of their elders; stroppy eles lying down on the ground and refusing to budge; the tiny newborn, not more than a month-old, surrounded by its mother and aunts like a diminutive pop star and her huge bodyguards. Even through binoculars I could only catch glimpses of her, but in ' a rare moment of clarity, I watched as the other adults gave the mother and child some space and it started to suckle. As the herd edged into the water, a lone bull emerged from the forest and wandered towards them. He looked edgy and skittish, hormones dribbling down its face. "He's in must," said Nadeera as we reversed out of his way. One of the other jeeps wasn't so sensible and provoked a spirited charge that could have turned nasty. Instead, the bull veered off at the last second and flounced into the lake where he swam out to an island, trunk held aloft like a snorkel, to take the elephant equivalent of a cold shower. Oblivious to the drama, the main herd sauntered on along the carpet of fresh grass shoots as the remaining shafts of sunlight cast their glow between the blue hills on the horizon. For all the glitz and drama of the Esala Perahera, this was how elephants were meant to be. It couldn't have been more beautiful - and not a fairy light or a golden tusk between them.

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Kumana National Wildlife Park , Sri Lanka

Kumana National Wildlife Park , Sri Lanka

Located in the southeast corner of Sri Lanka, the 18,149 hectare KUMANA (YALA EAST) NATIONAL PARK is a well-known eco tourism attraction and bird sanctuary where a multitude of birds breed and roost. One of the most significant features of the park is the 'Kumana Villu' - a 200 hectare natural swamp lake, fed by the 'Kumbukkan Oya' through a half mile long narrow channel. It is at this mangrove swamp that many water birds nest in May and June. Regular sightings include such species of bird as pelicans, painted storks, spoonbills, white ibis, herons, egrets and little cormorants. The very rare black-necked stork has also been spotted at the swamp. Besides the prolific birdlife, Kumana is also home to some of the mammals found in the larger YALA NATIONAL PARK (west) park, such as elephants and leopards. The vegetation in Kumana consists mainly of mangrove trees, kumbuk trees and the karan fern, as well as the open marsh area. For bird watching enthusiasts, the park is an 'absolute must'. Read more about Kumana National Park ....

History and the Description of the Kumana National Park: Located in the southeast corner of Sri Lanka , the 18,149 hectare KUMANA (YALA EAST) NATIONAL PARK is a well-known eco tourism attraction and bird sanctuary where a multitude of birds breed and roost. One of the most significant features of the park is the 'Kumana Villu' - a 200 hectare natural swamp lake, fed by the 'Kumbukkan Oya' through a half mile long narrow channel. It is at this mangrove swamp that many water birds nest in May and June. Regular sightings include such species of bird as pelicans, painted storks, spoonbills, white ibis, herons, egrets and little cormorants. The very rare black-necked stork has also been spotted at the swamp. Besides the prolific birdlife, Kumana is also home to some of the mammals found in the larger YALA NATIONAL PARK (west) park, such as elephants and leopards. The vegetation in Kumana consists mainly of mangrove trees, kumbuk trees and the karan fern, as well as the open marsh area. For bird watching enthusiasts, the park is an 'absolute must'.

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Kaudulla National Wildlife Park , Sri Lanka

Kaudulla National Wildlife Park , Sri Lanka

Opened in 2002 just before the massive Wilpattu reopened, KAUDULLA NATIONAL PARK is Sri Lanka's newest national park, wildlife reserve and eco tourism attraction. Situated around the ancient Kaudulla tank, the national park provides a 6656 hectare elephant corridor, only 6 km from off the main Habarana - Trincomalee road. With fantastic opportunities to see many elephants at close range, the park has become a popular destination for wildlife safaris that also take in leopards, sambar deer and the occasional sloth bear! As an additional novelty, you can go for cataraman rides on the tank. Read more about Kaudulla National Park

History and the Description of the Kaudulla National Park: Kaudulla National Park is Sri Lanka 's newest national park (opened in 2002) and is located off the main Habarana - Trincomalee road in the ancient cities' area (Cultural Triangle). The park has established a 6656-hectare elephant corridor between Somawathie Chaitiya and Minneriya National Parks . The best time to visit the park is between August and December. The park is centred on ancient Kaudulla Tank (reservoir) and is home to up to 250 Elephants (including herds of juvenile males), Leopard, Fishing cat, Sloth bear, Sambar deer, and the endangered Rusty spotted cat. Kaudulla NP can be visited on a jeep safari from Habarana, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya or Dambulla.

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Trekking and Nature Trails in Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka

Trekking and Nature Trails in Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka
HORTON PLAINS NATIONAL PARK, Sri Lanka is undoubtedly one of the world's best nature reserves and eco tourism venues. It is characterised by a beautiful landscape of rolling hills, covered in upper montane forest and wet patana grassland. In general, the forests are seen on the hilltops or upper slopes the grasslands in the valleys and lower slopes, eventually giving way to wetland habitats. Spanning approximately 10,000 hectares the park is also home to a wide variety of flora (57 species, 29 endemic to Sri Lanka) and 24 species of mammal such as elk, deer, giant squirrel, wild boar, wild hare, porcupine and leopard. For bird enthusiasts, there 87 species (14 of which are endemic), including many migratory birds. The Plains also feature many interesting attractions such as 'Bakers Falls', 'Chimmini Pool' and the famous 'World's End' (a 3700 ft sheer drop that offers fabulous views of the tea estates below and all the way out to the distant southern coastline). Read more about Horton Plains National Park .....
History and the Description of the Horton Plains National Park:
The Horton Plains are located on Sri Lanka 's highest plateau, between altitudes of 2,000 and 2, 300m. The landscape typically consists of undulating lands covered in a tropical cloud of forests or verdant montane savannah grasslands, locally known as patannahs.Visiting Horton Plains or 'Mahaeliya' as it is traditionally named is quite popular amongst locals, who mostly come to admire the views from the park's thrilling escarpments such as World's End at weekends . For this reason we recommend that you try to organise your visit during a weekday as this ensures that you will experience the Plain's isolated serenity. Visitors to the park can follow a 10km loop that incorporates all of the spectacular features, enabling them to enjoy them while adhering to the strict rules for environment protection and nature conservation. The best time to visit is early in the morning as this is when the air is likely to be clearest so that you can enjoy the best of the views. In the afternoons, clouds tend to descend and the area becomes submerged in mist. This is equally enthralling though and provides evidence for the evolution of this forest type. Allowing a half-day should give you plenty of time to enjoy it all at a leisurely pace.
The Plains are actually named after Sir Robert Wilmot Horton, a rather selfish and bloody-minded Brit (no surprise there then) who was singularly responsible for the slaying of all of the elephants in the area between 1831 to 1837. Although there is little hope of elephants ever returning, you can at least walk around in comparative safety admiring the many other interesting creatures around and about. Of these perhaps the most worthy of a mention are the Samber Deer, a common sight at dusk and in the early hours of the morning.
In order to get the most out of your visit we recommend that an expert naturalist provided by Eco-team take you around. These guides are good company and extremely knowledgeable; having their input can add a lot more interest to the trip.
New endemic mammal found in Sri Lanka Mountain Mouse - Deer in Horton Plains One of Sri Lanka 's least known mammals, the mouse-deer found in the highlands of Sri Lanka has been photographed in the wild. This may well be the only occasion in which it has been photographed to a 'publishable standard' under truly wild conditions. . For many years it was believed that Sri Lanka had one species of Mouse-deer, which was shared with Southern India . Colin Groves a British Taxonomist in June 2005 published a paper in a special supplement (No 12) of The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology whereby he distinguished three species of* Mouse-deer from Sri Lanka and India. The Indian Mouse-deer (Moschiola indica) was, split, as a new species and is now- considered .endemic to the Eastern Ghats of India. The Mouse deer found in Sri Lanka was split in to two new species. The White spotted Mouse-deer found (Moshiola meeminna) in the dry zone of Sri Lanka and the Yellow-striped: Mouse-deer (Moschiola kathygre) found in the wet zone of Sri Lanka. Both species are endemic to SriLanka. Presently this raises the number of endemic mammals found in Sri Lanka to eighteen species. Colin Groves in his paper on mouse-deer from India and Sri Lanka also stated that 'a single skull from Sri Lanka 's Hill Zone may prove to represent a fourth species'. The 'Mountain Mouse-deer' is evidently a very scarce animal. Many of the field staff Horton Plains National Park had not seen one although they regularly encounter other nocturnal mammals including leopard. A Mountain Mouse-deer was seen under quite dramatic circumstances on Monday 25th February by wildlife populariser Gehan de Silva Wijerathne & Nadeera Weerasinghe Naturalist St Andrew's Hotel. With the permission from WLDC it was temporally held captive for research and observation  purposes and released back in to the wild on the 27 th February.

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Gal Oya National Park , Sri Lanka

Gal Oya National Park , Sri Lanka

GAL OYA NATIONAL PARK lies in the southeast of Sri Lanka and to the west of Ampara. It was established in 1954 by the Gal Oya Development Board mainly to protect the catchment area of the 'Senanayake Samudra' Reservoir, and then handed over to the department of Wildlife Conservation in 1965. Considered as a major eco tourism venue, the national park is rich in flora and fauna. About 45% of the park is covered by evergreen forest and a further 33% is taken up by savanna areas. The 25,900 hectare park has about 32 species of mammals including common langur, endemic toque macaque, leopard, sloth bear, elephant, wild boar, water buffalo and 3 species of deer. For birding enthusiasts, approximately 150 of Sri Lanka 's 430 species of birds have been observed in this region. Read more about Gal Oya National Park....

History and the Description of the Gal Oya National Park: When one talks of the Gal Oya National Park , it is inevitably the Boat Safari that comes to the fore. This Boat Safari is made worthwhile and interesting by the presence of many small islands covered with forest and outcrops which are haven to elephants and birds. Elephants have made these islands their 'own' as they are the champion swimmers among the mammals present in the park. Often you may see these Elephants grazing happily and freely without any intrusions. They swim from island to island as they wish in search of greener pasture. You may even, during the safari, see the wonder of these mammoths swimming in the lake heading towards an island. Apart from Elephant Lovers, this boat safari has many surprises awaiting the Bird Lovers too. The "Kurulu Dupatha" or the " Bird Island " and some of these islands are 'infested' with birds. A great many varieties of birds in their entire splendor swarm these islands. You can step on to this Bird Island and walk through the forest up to the outcrop. From here, you can see so many birds' nests: some with eggs and some even with fledglings who are unable to fly away even when they spot you.

In talking about the Boat Safari, we mustn't entirely forget about the Jeep Safaris. At present there two jeep tracks running up to two campsites, one of which is about 5 km and other about 13km. There are many wild animals including leopard and sloth bear, in addition to many other varieties and of course the Elephant in this Park.

Gal Oya National Park is situated in the Moneragala District in the Eastern Province and came into being in the year 1954 as a result of protecting the catchment area of the Senanayake Samudraya which is the largest lake or the lake that holds the largest amount of water in the island.

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Bundala National Park

Bundala National Park

BUNDALA NATIONAL PARK is a unique area. The thorny scrub jungle is home to spotted deer, the rare pangolin and the playful grey langur monkey. A walk along the beach at dawn reveals unusual tracks in the sand. A sea turtle has come ashore to lay her eggs during the night. The picturesque lagoons and inter-tidal mud flats are alive with flashes of brilliant colour as wintering birds arrive to rest and feed. Welcome to Bundala,the world at the edge where the land, the sea, and the wetlands meet.

BUNDALA NATIONAL PARK, covering an area of 6216 hectares of eco tourism appeal, is located about 250km southeast of Colombo in the Hambantota district. The park falls within the southeastern arid zone of Sri Lanka, with a general climate that can be classified as hot and dry. The terrain is generally flat with sand dunes bordering the coastline, and vegetation consists mainly of dry thorny scrublands and lagoons. The bio diversity of this park is immense: A total of 383 plant species have been recorded from the park, including 6 endemics and 7 species that are considered nationally threatened. It is also home to 32 different species of mammal, 5 of which are classified as threatened. The bird life is also diverse. For keen bird-watchers, the complex wetland system harbours a rich bird life (approximately 197 species), including several species of migratory waterfowl. This has led to the declaration of the park as Sri Lanka 's first ‘Ramsar' wetland – one of great international importance especially for migratory waterfowl.  Read more about Bundala National Park .....

History and the Description of the Bundala National Parks: Bundala in the South East of Sri Lanka is a wonderful introduction to the country's National Parks. It is famous for its diversity and profusion of aquatic bird life which feed on the rich harvest provided by the numerous lagoons throughout the park. It forms the most important wetland sanctuary, outside of the Northern Province, for migratory shore-birds including the Greater Flamingo. The park covers approximately 6000 hectares of brackish lagoons, salt pans, inter-tidal mudflats and thorny scrub jungle. There is a small population of elephants which are fairly easy to spot in the open habitat; it is not unheard of to find one walking along the beach in perfect isolation. Leopards can also be found in the park preying on the numerous Spotted deer, Sambar and Barking deer. Sightings are very rare but it is worth exploring several rocky outcrops where previous sightings have occurred. As well as leopards there are Sloth bears, Jackals, Giant squirrels, Indian pangolin and Civet cats. Marsh and estuarine crocodiles are both found in Bundala in addition to Monitor lizards and a variety of other reptiles.

Of the 150 bird species listed in the park, every species of water bird found in the country is said to visit here. The rare Black-necked stork and Great Thick-knee are particular birding highlights. It is easy to spot Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Spoonbill, Red Shank, Green Shank, Spot-billed Pelican, Blue-faced Malkoha, Brahminy Kite, Crested Hawk eagle and Brown Shrike, to name but a few. Migrants and vagrants make the journey from as far as Siberia ; over 10,000 shore birds might be feeding at any one time between October and March.  Along the coastal road leading from nearby Hambantota, where you will be based, to Bundala is another haven for wildlife with several more bird species to be seen. This coastal area also attracts four out of Sri Lanka 's five sea turtle species, which come ashore to lay their eggs. This park is much less visited than Yala, so largely avoids the weekend crowds. A couple of days spent here is ideal before heading off to the nearby Udawalawe and Yala National Parks , or in conjunction with a beach stay at Tangalle or Mirissa. The park is approximately five hours drive from Colombo along the coast. The average annual rainfall is relatively low and the 'dry season' falls between May and September.

CROCODILES IN BUNDALA

Bundala is the only  National Park in Sri Lanka, where you get to observe  both species of crocodiles existing in the country. A vast concentration  of  estuarine crocodiles live in the lagoon areas and in  the estuary of the Kirindi Oya river,  while the mugger or the freshwater crocodile dwells in the small freshwater lakes and in  the upper regions  of the Kirindi Oya. The estuarine crocodile is the largest reptile alive today. The  male of the species, grows to a length of seven metres and can weigh around 1200kg, with  the female much smaller in comparison at around  three metres in length. The female crocodile digs a hole in the sand several metres away from the water, lays around fifty eggs and provides protection to the nest by ensuring she stays close  to  the vicinity. When its time for the eggs to hatch, She is on hand to lend a helping hand to the new borns by carrying them to the water and also providing Motherly care until they are able to fend for themselves. Despite all this attention and care by the mother, the percentage of survival of these baby crocodiles is very sparse as they not only  fall  prey to  turtles and other large  fish but also to the adult male crocodiles  who hunt them down to protect their own territory

It's man's world?? The temperature of the crocodile's nest determines the sex of the juveniles. If the temperature high, near 32.5C, the embryos are mostly males. As global warming continues, we could see some interesting changes in crocodile populations! At 33 degrees C,80% of hatchling will be male  At 32 degrees C,80% of hatchling will be female

The Estuarine or saltwater, crocodiles live in social groups. They spend most of their time trying to keep their body temperature constant. These crocodiles can swim large distances over open sea, which probably accounts for their wide distribution.

The mugger crocodile is found in fresh or brackish water. They like slow-moving, shallow water, making the lagoons of Bundala a perfect home. During the dry season muggers dig burrows in the mud to protect themselves from the heat, and they may travel long distances over land to find water if their pool dries up.

What are they saying?

The crocodile is considered one of the most interlligent reptiles.Their different calls are a specialized means of communication.A hatchling chrip alerts the female when offspring are ready to emerge.Juvenile crocs perform a distress call when they feel in danger, and a long, low growl is a courtship bellow. The most important croc song for humans to learn is a hiss or cough.If you hear this coming from the marsh,Look out! It is the call crocs use to warn off intruders just before they attack.

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Trincomalee - Enjoy Surfing, Scuba Diving and Colonial History

Trincomalee - Enjoy Surfing, Scuba Diving and Colonial History

TRINCOMALEE (more commonly known as 'Trinco') is a prime eco tourism venue which is located on the northeast coast of Sri Lanka and offers some of the country's most attractive beaches such as 'Uppuveli' and 'Nilaveli'. Fine white-sand and crystal clear water provides an irresistible combination that won't fail to disappoint any visitor who loves the beach! Snorkelling around the famous Pigeon island just off Nilaveli beach is widely recognised to be a 'must-do' activity during a stay in Trinco, Sri Lanka. WINDSURFING is also a very popular activity in the area. Away from the beaches, the town has one of the most interesting and complex colonial histories in the whole of Sri Lanka, with its ownership changing between the king of Kandy, the Dutch, the British and the French on a number of different occasions!During the recent war, the area's beauty continued to attract many travellers and since the peace resolution in 2002, visitors have increased in their numbers even more.

Most of the programmes that we operate in theTRINCOMALEE area are based from the HOTEL CLUB OCEANIC or NILAVELI BEACH HOTEL,.We also run an ECO TEAM DIVING CAMP that is located close to the beach itself.  However, we can also arrange accommodation in a variety of other hotels and guest-houses for a wide range of standards and budgets.

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OUR SEA TURTLES

OUR SEA TURTLES

Marine turtles have been roaming the world's oceans for about 190 million years. Today eight species of these ancient reptiles remain. Five of these species regularly visit the sandy beaches of Sri Lanka to nest.

Throughout the world, marine turtles are hunted and butchered for their flesh and shells. Even female turtles that have hauled themselves up the beach to nest are killed and their eggs are stolen.

The result of this global over exploitation is that this highly successful group of animals, which managed to survive with the dinosaurs, has become critically endangered. All species of marine turtle face extinction if man does not cease his destructive activities.

• In Sri Lanka all sea turtles and their products are fully protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. Anyone found to be violating the conditions of this Ordinance is liable to face a substantial fine and/or prison term.
• Sea turtles are also protected under international law, therefore international trade in sea turtle products is illegal in countries, such as Sri Lanka, which are signatories to the CITES Convention. (CITES - Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species)

The small fishing village of REKAWA is a vital eco tourism venue located about 10 km east of the south coast town of Tangalla , Sri Lanka .

SOME FACTS ON TURTLES

• Turtles have lungs and must come to surface to breathe every thirty minutes. When they are sleep their bodies do not need as rush oxygen and they are therefore able to spend the entire night underwater.
• Turtles are known to migrate over distances. A Leatherback turtle tagged in French Guiana in South America was recovered in Ghana some 3800 miles away.
• Marine turles are believed to reach sexual maturity at thirty years and live to over eighty years old.
• Adult females are believed to return to the beach on which they hatched, to lay their eggs. Sea turtles prefer quiet, dark, undisturbed beaches where they will be less vulnerable to predators.
• Between 80 and 120 eggs are laid in each nest. The eggs are white and about the same size and shape as a table tennis ball. A single female may nest up to five times in a season.
• The temperature of the nest during incubation determines the sex of the hatchlings. When they hatch, the young turtles make their way straight to sea and swim constantly for up to 2 days. This is known as the "juvenile frenzy" and allows the hatchlings to escape the predator rich inshore waters. Every 1000 eggs laid are believed to yield only one mature adult sea turtle.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

• Do not kill turtles or eat turtle flesh.
• Do not eat turtle eggs and discourage others from doing so.
• Never buy "Turtle shell" or any other marine turtle products.
• Do not disturb nesting turtles.
• Minimize light disturbance on the beach at night.
• Do not throw litter on the beach, in rivers or in the sea.
• Assist in law enforcement by notifying the Department of Wildlife Conservation of any of enrichment the law.

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Fishing Villages in Sri Lanka - Experience Sri Lanka's Village Life

Fishing Villages in Sri Lanka - Experience Sri Lanka's Village Life

Despite its natural beauty, the western peninsular area of KALPITIYA in the Puttalam district of Sri Lanka is remarkably untouched by tourism.  But for those lucky enough to visit, there's a plethora of things to see and do!  With the small close-knit fishing community dominating the lives of the local people, visitors can get a real insight into working life away from the city.  After watching the night fishing boats return in the morning, a visit to one of the fish markets offers the opportunity to choose the evening meal direct from the fresh catch!  The Dutch Fort and St Peter's Kerk church in the town itself are interesting examples of Sri Lanka's rich history and colonial past.  Leisurely boat rides up the lagoon and canoe trips down the river are a pleasant way of exploring the coastline, whilst 4WD jeep rides along the deserted sand dunes between the ocean and the lagoon offer a unique way of watching the colourful evening sunsets.

For keen scuba divers and snorkellers, the largest coral reef in Sri Lanka ('Bar reef') is only an hour's boat trip from Kalpitiya.  This beautiful reef is home to an incredible variety of tropical fish as well as offering sighting of manta rays, reef sharks and the occasional turtle!

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