Wildlife
The fauna of Sri Lanka is rich and well preserved because the island does not have many large predators, and, being under the influence of Buddhism for centuries, the population has learned to respect all forms of animal life. Thus, hunting exists but it is little practiced. Fishing, on the other hand, is still a means of subsistence for a large part of the population. Several species are common with India, but there are also some animals specific to the island, where are listed 342 varieties of amphibians and snakes, 468 species of birds, 117 kinds of mammals, including 90 terrestrial and 27 marine species, and 7 types of marine turtles.
Monkeys. Unavoidable, you will see them everywhere, around the sacred sites, in the temples, and of course in the nature. They often approach inhabited areas, and therefore hotels, to come and look for food. Don't forget to close your windows when they are around! The most common species is the macaque, mischievous and thieving. The elegant grey langurs with their slender silhouette can also be seen in many places. Much rarer, the lion-tailed macaque, also known as the ouandérou, is distinguished by its grayish mane and its dark face resembling that of an old man. This tree-dwelling primate is an endangered species.
The Sri Lankan elephant is one of the three species of elephant in Asia. It is smaller than its African cousin, and females are generally smaller than males. Sri Lanka had 20,000 elephants at the beginning of the twentieth century, then massive deforestation, hunting by British colonizers, wild poaching and civil war decimated the population of pachyderms on the island. Today, there are still between 3,500 and 4,000 wild elephants, mainly concentrated in the national parks and sanctuaries of the country. They can be seen at the bend of a wooded path or on a mountainous road, especially around Habarana, in and around the Hurulu Eco Park and the national parks of Minneriya, Wasgamuwa, Gal Oya, Uda Walawe, Yala or Wilpattu. If these pachyderms are splendid animals to observe in their majestic serenity, human-elephant conflicts are frequent and cause victims on both sides. In 2020, 318 elephants were killed, electrocuted by protective fences, knocked down by a train or poisoned by villagers whose fields had been ravaged. And in 2021, no fewer than 61 people lost their lives to elephants. Farmers build electrified fences and watch their fields from wooden watchtowers to prevent the arrival of the pachyderms and send firecrackers to make them turn back. It is important to remember that these colossal animals weigh between 3 and 5 tons, can run up to 40 km/h and become aggressive, especially in the presence of their offspring. In case of an encounter with an elephant, keep a safe distance of at least 30 meters from them. Some organizations, sometimes criticized for the sincerity of their involvement, take in orphaned or injured elephants. This is the case of the Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage and the Udawalawe Elephant Transfer Home (ETH).
There are about 350 domesticated elephants in the country, some of them belonging to private owners and others to temples. More than half of these pachyderms are over 50 years old. They are mainly used to transport wood, for weddings or, more sadly, to drive tourists around. This last activity tends fortunately to disappear. The presence of elephants is especially a pillar of religious ceremonies, especially for the festival of the Temple of the Tooth of Kandy, Esala Perahera, where parade in the streets a hundred elephants caparisoned with embroidered fabrics, golden and bright.
The Sri Lankan leopard, also known as the Ceylon panther, is the other mythical animal of the country, but you need a little luck to observe it because these felines come out only at night and are very fast. The largest predator of the island lives in different habitats and is distributed throughout Sri Lanka. It feeds mainly on deer but also on wild boar, birds... Unlike species from other continents, it rarely keeps its prey in trees because there are no other predators competing with it. This cat is unfortunately endangered, and in Sri Lanka it is threatened by deforestation and by conflicts with humans. Leopards are killed accidentally by traps and protections intended for other species, by man to protect the livestock he comes to monopolize, and are victims of poaching. 6 to 7 leopards are killed each year. The Wilderness and Wildlife Conservation Trust launched the Project Leopard program in order to identify all the leopards on the island and to implement effective means to protect its natural habitat, and thus conserve the species. Today, its presence is estimated at about 800 individuals. The best opportunities to see this fascinating cat are in Wilpattu and Yala National Parks.
Other animals. Sambar, fallow deer and various deer, jackals, porcupines and bats are regularly seen in the various national parks and nature reserves. The territory is also home to a large population of wild buffalo, as well as the sloth or lippu bear, the only bear species present on the island, and the giant Ceylon squirrel, an arboreal species only found in the mountains. Also snakes of the cobra or viper type, and other venomous species, but one has very little chance to see them off the roads. Nevertheless, be careful when walking through tall grass or moving stones. While walking or near your place of residence, you will probably see the Bengal monitor, a huge lizard that can measure more than a meter in length. It often impresses travelers but it is harmless to humans, even if it is a carnivorous animal.
The marine fauna is rich and abundant along the coasts where the water is clear and where the coral reefs have been preserved. This is the case on the east coast and in the Trincomalee area; you can go diving on the reefs far from the coast, especially on Pigeon Island. In Trincomalee, Mirissa and Kalpitiya, many agencies offer offshore cruises to try to spot whales, orcas, dugongs, dolphins and sea turtles. The latter, mainly loggerhead and leatherback turtles, are numerous and well protected, and you will have the opportunity to admire them during a night outing at the time of laying. The numerous turtle hatcheries scattered from Bentota to Tangalle are enriching and allow you to get information about them. Beware, swamp and saltwater crocodiles are very present in Sri Lanka. Some can reach 5 to 6 meters and weigh up to 1,000 kg. You will see them while walking through the mangrove on the Madhu River and near waterholes. Keep this information in mind if you want to swim in a lake or a river! Always ask a local for advice beforehand.
Birds. Birdwatchers will be delighted: there are over 468 varieties of birds in Sri Lanka. Among the most remarkable species are the Malabar hornbill, the majestic blue peacock, the kingfisher and the spotted pelican. Many tour operators are able to offer bird watching trips along the rivers and in the various national parks and sanctuaries, especially on the east coast at Kokkilai Bird Sanctuary.
Flora
This small tropical island flooded by sunshine all year round and irrigated by heavy rains has a varied and abundant flora, which varies in different geographical areas according to climate and topography. Sri Lanka was connected by land to the Western Ghats of India for centuries and shares similar vegetation characteristics. Today, natural vegetation covers about one third of the country's area. There are over 3,350 species of flowering plants on the island, used as food, spices and medicinal plants. Ayurveda, the traditional medicine, is widespread throughout the country and uses a wide range of plants, herbs and essences for its practice.
There are three main vegetation zones. The arid zone is located in the north of the country and its lands at less than 500 meters of altitude have little rainfall (less than 100 mm per year). The landscape is mainly composed of small shrubs and thorny brush. Although the conditions for successful agriculture are not present, trees providing valuable timber, such as teak, ebony and mahogany, are found here. The intermediate zone, with an altitude between 500 and 1,500 meters, has subtropical evergreen forests similar to those in temperate countries. Finally, there is the tropical forest, also called rainforest, with dense evergreen vegetation and a great diversity of giant trees, some of which are centuries old. This area, which has high rainfall (more than 2,000 mm per year), is located in the southwest of the island.
Flora lovers will of course visit the various national parks and protected areas, but also the most remarkable gardens of the island: the Royal Botanic Gardens of Peradeniya, in the suburbs of Kandy, and the Hagkala Botanical Gardens, near Nuwara Eliya.
Protected areas
The various protected areas cover more than 25% of the territory. These areas include national parks, which are open to the public; sanctuaries, where the protection of wildlife habitat goes hand in hand with human activities; nature reserves, where traditional human activities already present continue in coexistence with animal life; and finally strict nature reserves, which are exclusively dedicated to nature, with a formal prohibition on introducing any human activity. In Sri Lanka, the government's Department of Wildlife Conservation has a good infrastructure and has had the excellent idea of recruiting staff from the local population, thus benefiting from their knowledge of the terrain and their experience. Former poachers have become rangers or guides, attracted by a stable job and a higher salary than their former (and illegal) activity. The preservation of these natural sites is also supported by Sri Lankan religious and cultural traditions. Buddhism, the main religion of the island, advocates respect for life in all its forms, and Ayurvedic medicine, an ancestral traditional culture, takes advantage of the benefits of nature (plants, flowers, essences...) to concoct its treatments. These elements greatly facilitate the establishment of natural protected areas and the support of local populations. In 2021, international organizations rank Sri Lanka in the top 20 in the world for biodiversity.
