Know Before You Go

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.