Sri Lanka Wildlife Guide
Sri Lanka, combined with the Western Ghats of India, is considered to be one of the world’s “Biodiversity Hot Spots.” The wide variety of habitat types and micro-climates on this small island provide homes for far more species than one might expect.
Human development on the island has also inadvertently supported some of these species. Centuries ago, kingdoms on Sri Lanka created irrigation systems fed by artificial lakes and ponds. While many of these irrigation systems are still being used by farmers to water their crops, many have gone into disuse and are now important watering holes for wildlife. This is particularly important for the island’s elephants, as they need to drink up to 50 gallons of water every day.
Click the links below to learn more about each species.
Human development on the island has also inadvertently supported some of these species. Centuries ago, kingdoms on Sri Lanka created irrigation systems fed by artificial lakes and ponds. While many of these irrigation systems are still being used by farmers to water their crops, many have gone into disuse and are now important watering holes for wildlife. This is particularly important for the island’s elephants, as they need to drink up to 50 gallons of water every day.
Click the links below to learn more about each species.
Blue Whale
Blue Whale
Mugger Crocodile
Mugger Crocodile
Peafowl
Peafowl
Purple-Faced Langur
Purple-Faced Langur
Sambar
Sambar
Slender Loris
Slender Loris
Sloth Bear
Sloth Bear
Spotted Deer
Spotted Deer
Sri Lankan Elephant
Sri Lankan Elephant
Sri Lankan Leopard
Sri Lankan Leopard
Toque Macaques
Toque Macaques
Tufted Gray Langur
Tufted Gray Langur
Know Before You Go
