WILDLIFE SRI LANKA

SRI LANKA WILDLIFE

Though Sri Lanka is very small in land area, the great diversity in habitats harbors are a rich and diverse fauna and flora, with many species endemic to the island. Historically as well as in the modern era, successive rulers and governments of Sri Lanka have strived to provide sanctuary and protection to our beautiful wildlife. Today the demands and aspirations of an expanding human population makes it difficult for the government to be solely responsible for the protection, preservation and management of this beguiled wild heritage of ours. Today, especially where human interest and wildlife interest are in direct conflict. It is imperative that private organizations with resources step into and fill the areas that need immediate attention: environmental education, long term research, and to develop integrated projects for community based conservation.

NATIONAL PARKS

WILPATTU NATIONAL PARK
WILPATTU is the largest and oldest national parks in Sri Lanka and located in the Northwest coast lowland dry zone of Sri Lanka. The park is located 30km west Anuradhapura and located 26 km north of Puttalam.

YALA (RUHUNA) NATIONAL PARK
YALA is the 2nd largest national park in Sri Lanka. It is situated in the southeast region of the island in the dry zone. The park is situated about 300 km from Colombo which is capital city of Sri Lanka. The park divided into five blocks and only I and II blocks are opened for the visitors. The reserve covers 979 km², although only the original 141 km² are open to the public. It was established in 1894 as a Game Sanctuary.

GAL OYA NATIONAL PARK
GAL OYA NATIONAL PARK was established in 1954 and built under the Gal Oya development project by damming the Gal Oya at Inginiyagala in 1950.

UDA WALAWE NATIONAL PARK
UDA WALAWE NATIONAL PARK is an important national park in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. The reserve covers 306 km² and was established in 1972 to protect the catchment of the Uda Walawe reservoir.

WASGAMUWA NATIONAL PARK
WASGAMUWA NATIONAL PARK is a natural park in Sri lanka and situated 225 km away from Colombo. Originally it was designated as a nature reserve in 1938, and then in the early 1970's the area was regraded as a strict nature reserve. The park is situated 225 km away from Colombo.

HORTON PLAINS NATIONAL PARK
HORTON PLAINS NATIONAL PARK is a national park in the highlands of Sri Lanka. It lies at a height of more than 2,000 m in the central highlands, and its altitude means that it has a much cooler and more windy climate than the lowlands of Sri Lanka. This was named in 1834.

BUNDALA NATIONAL PARK
BUNDALA NATIONAL PARK was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and redesignated to a nationla park on 4 January 1993. In 1991 Bundala became the first wetland to be declared as a Ramsar site in Sri Lanka.

SINHARAJA FOREST
The last major undisturbed area of rainforest in Sri Lanka, this forest reserve occupies a broad ridge at the heart of the island’s wet zone. On most days the forest conjures copious rain-clouds that replenish its deep soils and balance water resources for much of southwestern Sri Lanka. Recognising its importance to the island’s ecosystem, Unesco declared the reserve a World Heritage Site in 1989.

Sinharaja (Lion King) is bordered by rivers: the Koskulana Ganga in the north and the Gin Ganga in the south. An old foot track that goes past the Beverley Estate marks the eastern border, close to the highest peak in the forest, Hinipitigala (1171m). Towards the west the land decreases in elevation.

The reserve comprises 18,899 hectares of natural and modified forest, measuring about 21km east to west and 3.7km north to south. It was once a royal reserve, and some colonial records refer to it as Rajasinghe Forest. It may have been the last redoubt of the Sri Lankan lion.

In 1840 the forest became British crown land and from that time efforts were made to preserve at least some of it. However, in 1971 loggers moved in and began what was called selective logging. The logged native hardwoods were replaced with mahogany (which does not occur naturally here), logging roads and trails snaked into the forest, and a wood-chip mill was built. Conservationists lobbied hard for an end to the destruction. In 1977 the government called a halt to all logging; the machinery was dismantled and taken out of the forest, the roads gradually grew over and Sinharaja was saved. Much of the rest of Sri Lanka’s rainforest stands on mountain ridges within a 20km radius of the forest.

There are 22 villages around the forest, and locals are permitted to enter the area to tap palms to make jaggery (a hard brown sweet) and treacle, and to collect dead wood and leaves for fuel and construction. Medicinal plants are collected during specific seasons. Rattan collection is of more concern, as the demand for cane is high. Sinharaja attracts illegal gem miners too, whose abandoned open pits pose a danger to humans and animals and cause erosion. There is also some poaching of wild animals.

REMARKABLE ANIMALS

MOUSE DEER

The Indian spotted chevrotain, more commonly referred to as the mouse deer, inhabits the undisturbed jungles of the lowland and lower hills. It is remarkable for its size, the male being only 25 cms tall at the shoulder, while the female is slightly larger. The mouse deer has a rounded, mouse-like body atop very thin legs. Neither sex bears antlers. It is an exceedingly shy and solitary animal, and has the ability to scramble up creeper-covered trees to evade enemies. Mainly nocturnal, the mouse deer feeds on grasses, leaves and berries.

INDIAN FISHING CAT

The Indian fishing cat inhabits jungle, scrub jungle and swamp areas, except in the north of the island. It is a little larger than a domestic cat, but its fur is short and coarse. The colour is usually grayish, with drab brown spots, but some specimens are much darker than others. Indian fishing cats are solitary animals, feeding on birds, small animals and fish. They are mainly nocturnal. Beware, for they can be very fierce if cornered.

SRI LANKA JACKAL

The Sri Lanka jackal inhabits the lowlands of the dry zone, but can also be found in many of the wilder areas of the island. It looks much like a fox or even a dog, with brown fur on the lower body and coarser grey and black fur on the back and tail. The Sri Lanka jackal often lives in pairs or small family groups. Although it is nocturnal in areas close to human habitation, in national parks it can be seen during the day.

SRI LANKA BLACK-NAPED HARE

The Sri Lanka black-naped hare, which is the sole hare or rabbit species to inhabit the island, is found everywhere there is scrub jungle and grassland. It has light brown and grey flecked fur, with a distinctive black patch on the nape of the neck. It is mostly nocturnal and solitary, only to be seen in small groups if the grazing thereabouts is exceptional.


INDIAN WILD BOAR

The Indian wild boar inhabits isolated marshy areas, where it loves to wallow and root about for food. A large adult can grow to wallow and root about for food. A large adult can grow to a height of almost 90 cm at the shoulder, while the female is only 60cm. The head is pig-like and the hair remarkable for being very coarse and rather sparse, except for a thick line along the spine. Boards have tushes, or small tusks, around 20cm long. Family groups known as sounders comprise only females and their young because boars usually pursue a solitary existence or form bachelor groups. Although the Indian wild boar is mainly vegetarian, it occasionally feeds on carrion, insects and even snakes and birds.

INDIAN CRESTED PORCUPINE

The Indian crested porcupine inhabits wilderness areas throughout the island. It has a rodent-like body, the front of which is covered with coarse hair and very long bristles, while the rear and tail are covered with quills. It is nocturnal, feeding on fruit, leaves, bark and roots. Their defence is to elevate and rattle their quills, and then to charge backwards at the enemy, impaling them if they do not retreat.

COMMON FLYING FOX

The common flying fox, which is Sri Lanka’s largest species of bat, is found throughout the island apart from the highest hills. The wings, which are formed by flaps of bare skin joining the arms and legs, have a span of around 120 cm. The head and body, however, are covered with a reddish-black fur. Although the common flying fox is nocturnal, it can often be seen roosting during the day by handing upside down from the upper branches of tall trees, in noisy, quarrelsome colonies. One of the most convenient places for visitors to see them like this is at Mawanella, where thy can be seen from the Colombo to Kandy road. The best view of them, however, can be obtained at dusk, when one by one they unfurl their wings and take flight for a night of foraging. They look an awesome sight as they fly overhead, their large bat-wings silhouetted against the darkening sky. Their food consists of the juices of fruits and flower, which they extract by vigorous chewing.

SLENDER LORIES

The slender loris, one of Sri Lanka’s most remarkable animals, inhabits forest and jungle areas throughout the island, although it is not common. This species is represented by 4 races, each differing in size (18-25 cm) and colour (shades of brown with white one the head, back and under parts). It is nocturnal and is either solitary or live in pairs. The slender loris has very slow and stealthy movements, which aid it in stalking its prey, such as small birds, lizards and tree frogs.

ENDEMIC BIRDS

SRI LANKA HANGING PARROT

Found in all parts of the country, but mainly in the foothills of the wet zone. Prefers to hang upside down rather than perch.

SRI LANKA SPOT-WINGED THRUSH

Found in the wooded areas of all parts of the country. A shy bird whose striking rich whistle is often heard in the forests.

SRI LANKA DULL-BLUE FLYCATCHER

Found in the wooded areas of the hill country. Often seen catching its insect prey by making quick sorties from a branch with a view.

SRI LANKA YELLOW-FRONTED BARBET

Found mostly in the forested areas of the mid-country, where its remarkable rolling call is often heard.

ASHY-HEADED LAUGHING-THRUSH

Found in the tall forests of the wet zone, where it lives usually in small family groups.

SRI LANKA CHESTNUT-BACKED OWLET

Found almost throughout the island in forest, scrub and cultivation. Its distinctive cry of “huhu hoo” is often heard in the woods at dusk.

SRI LANKA BLUE MAGPIE

Found in the forests of the wet zone and hill zone. Its loud, rasping call is often heard, but the bird itself is not so often seen.

SRI LANKA YELLOW-EARED BULBUL

Found in the forests and well-wooded areas of the hill country. Lives in pairs or otherwise in small flocks.

LAYARD'S PARAKEET

Found in forested areas of the hills and adjoining low country. Often seen flying swiftly in small flocks uttering its squawking screams.









SRI LANKA WOOD PIGEON

Found mainly in the well-wooded areas of the hill country. A shy arboreal bird.






BLACK-CRESTED BULBUL

Found in the well-wooded areas of the lowlands and low hills. Lives in pairs or otherwise in small flocks.

SRI LANKA SPURFOWL

Found in all parts but prefers the wet zone. A shy bird of the dense forest, which is seldom seen although its call is often heard.

SRI LANKA GREY HORNBILL

Found in the forests of the dry zone lowlands and low hills. Lives in pairs. A prowling bird, often seen flying close to jungle tracks.

SRI LANKA GREEN-BILLED COUCAL

Found in the low country wet zone. A scarce bird, often to be seen in dense forest and near thick clumps of bamboo.









BLACK-THROATED MUNIA

Found in gardens, plantations, and grassland. They live in small flocks and build globular nests of grass in trees or bushes.

SRI LANKA BROWN CAPPED BADDLER

Found mostly in deep forests that are located in wetland areas, these birds ascend to the foothills of the hill country. This bird lives in pairs and nests usually at the foot of a tree or in a shrub.

RED-FACED MALKOHA

Found in undisturbed forest areas in the wet zone and riverine forests of the dry zone. A scarce bird of the denser parts of the forest.

SRI LANKA WHISTLING-THRUSH

Found in the well-wooded ravines of the forests of the highland zone. This bird is usually to be met with close to water, often a stream.

SRI LANKA MYNAH

Found in the wet zone and wooded areas of the high and low country. These birds move around usually in noisy pairs.

SRI LANKA WHITE-EYE

Found in the wooded area of the high hills. These are restless birds, usually seen in large flocks, twittering as they search for insect prey.

LEGGE'S FLOWERPECKER

Found in the south west wet zone forests. This is a bird of the treetops, living singly or otherwise in pairs.

SRI LANKA JUNGLE FOWL

Found in the forests throughout the island, but is commonest in the national parks. A typical fowl, it struts about scratching for food.

CRIMSON-FRONTED BARBET

Found in the wooded areas of the lowlands and mid-hills of the dry zone. This is a bird of the treetops, giving a low, repetitive call.

YELLOW-BILLED BABBLER

Found in most parts of the island, except in forests and the higher hills. Moves around the ground in small, chattering, family flocks.

SRI LANKA WHITE-FACED STARLING

Found in the low country to medium hills of the wet zone. A scarce and arboreal bird of the forest, sometimes seen in small flocks.

SRI LANKA BUSH WARBLER

Found only in the mid hills and above, this bird moves usually in pairs and seeks nesting places in damp mountain forests mostly in bamboo and thick shrub.