Sri Lankan Wild Life
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By Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne At around 66,000 square kilometres, Sri Lanka is only about half the size of England. Yet this small island confounds biogeography theorists by being home to large mammals. It is the best place in Asia to see the continent's largest terrestrial mammal, the Asian elephant. During 'The Gathering' up to 300 may gather within one square kilometre at Minneriya National Park. It also offers that ultimate ecotourism trump card: the leopard. In fact, Yala National Park has one of the highest densities of this elusive animal anywhere in the world. The combination of open terrain and the cat's confidence as a top predator make for some fine leopard viewing.
The island is also among the world's highest-ranked for species density of other faunal groups, including reptiles, birds and amphibians. Tree frogs, for instance, are most associated with Costa Rica, yet ongoing research suggests that Sri Lanka may yet emerge as t he frog capital of the world. The cloud forests that cloak the island's mountainous core harbour other unique animals, such as the dwarf lizard, which has a prehensile tail and gives birth to live young. Still more species await discovery in the richly biodiverse rainforests of the island's southwest.
The attractions of Sri Lanka's biodiversity and compact size are supported by its good tourist infrastructure, with excellent hotels and roads, and widely spoken English. Many top cultural sites are also good for ecotourists, with archaeological reserves doubling up as nature reserves. In the medieval capital of Polonnaruwa, among ancient stupas and sublime stone sculptures, birders can see more than a hundred species in a day. The archaeological sites are also very good for primates. The combination of culture, nature and friendly people justify Sri Lanka's fast-growing reputation as one of Asia's very best ecotourism destinations.
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Kalutara.. Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka.
Holidays in Kalutara offer laid back relaxation and a generous helping of authentic Sri Lankan culture, not to mention a dash of old colonial charm. (05/07/2012)
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