TikaWeeks #37/2017: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 16th September 2017

Ahaspokuna Bush Walks Camp, Belihuloya, Sri Lanka

Wildlife

Minneriya National Park – Now in the middle of the ‘gathering’ (August to October), when large herds of elephants congregate around Minneriya Lake to seek the last available water at the end of the dry season, Minneriya forms an ‘elephant corridor’ with Kaudulla National Park for the vast herds roaming the eastern area of the country from Trincomalee through to Wasgamuwa, Maduru Oya and Gal Oya National Parks further south. The park is home to a variety of animals such as elephants, leopards, toque macaques, purple faced langurs, sloth bears, sambar and spotted deer, and about 160 bird species, including many endemics.

Wilpattu National Park – Wilpattu reopened to visitors this week following its closure on 01 August 2017 due to a severe drought in the area. Wilpattu is the island’s largest wildlife reserve at 131,693 hectares as well as one of the oldest and most important protected areas in Sri Lanka. Principally a dry lowland zone, the main topographical feature in the park is the concentration of ‘villus’. Though looking like lakes, these ‘villus’ are in fact basin-like fault depressions in the earth that fill with rain water during the monsoon season. The ‘villus’ attract a variety of animals including leopards, elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, water buffalos and deer. The ‘villus’ also support a variety of resident and migratory waterfowl , including the Painted Stork, Open-billed Stork, Garganey, Whistling Teal and Spoonbill, as well as forest or scrub dwellers such as the Racquet-tailed Drongo, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Crimson-breasted Barbet and Malabar Pied Hornbill.

Yala West National Park – Yala closed on 01 September (until 16 October) for its annual respite period for the animals at the end of the dry season. Sri Lanka’s principal wildlife reserve, Yala is a ‘dry zone’ scrub jungle bordering the ocean in the south-eastern corner of the island and boasts the highest density of wild leopards in the world. Other inhabitants include elephants, sloth bears, sambars, spotted deer, wild boars, crocodiles, wild buffaloes, mongooses, jackals, monkeys, and over 150 species of birds, including: Sri Lankan Junglefowl, White-bellied Fish Eagle, Painted Stork, Black-necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Pompadour Green Pigeon, Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Brown Fish Owl, Red-faced Malkoha, three species of bee-eaters, and large numbers of waders (including three species of pratincole and two thick-knees).

Culture

Navam Perahera, Colombo, 28 February & 01 March 2018 – Since 1979, the perahera has enchanted large crowds of locals and visitors alike. The procession, steeped in age-old traditions, involves much pageantry and includes masked dancers and acrobats, regional drummers, caparisoned elephants, fire-eaters and jugglers, and marching bands. Organised by Gangaramaya Temple, the parade follows flag and torch bearers and 500 parading monks, thus completing a true spectacle. A large tusker carrying the tooth relic on its back symbolises the integrity of such a procession and completes a magnificent festive celebration.

Kandy Esala Perahera, 17-27 August 2018 – Tentative dates for next year’s Kandy Esala Perahera, one of the cultural highlights of the year, are 17 to 27 August 2018. The perahera is an elephant parade with much pomp and ceremony in homage to the Buddha's sacred tooth relic, which is normally housed in the Temple of the Tooth. The procession includes Kandyan Dancers & Drummers, the caparisoned Maligawa Tusker (sacred elephant) carrying the tooth relic, fire-eaters and jugglers, and marching bands.

New to Tikalanka

Ahaspokuna Bush Walks Camp near Belihuloya in the southwestern Hill Country is Sri Lanka's first, all-suite, luxury, private bush walks camp, and it is immersed in 900 hectares of pristine wilderness that was created by merging an historical hideout and a protected forest.

The Glenrock, also close to the sleepy town of Belihuloya, is a luxury hideaway located in an attractive wooded valley surrounded by mountains. Hidden on the banks of a cascading rocky river at Ulugala Thenna (Tile Rock Plains) and nestled between Horton Plains National Park, Adam's Peak and Rabbit Rock (Ha Gala), The Glenrock provides a naturally relaxing experience.