Wild life of Srilanka

Srilanka is an island covered by the Indian ocean and very closely located to the Indian peninsula.

Size of this island is around 65,625 sqkm2 and India is 62 times bigger than Srilanka.

Around 30% of the land mass covered by different types of forests and vegetation which offer a residence for different types of fauna.

Wildlife Reserves

Animals in the forests are an important part of the bio-diversity.

Forest reserves are declared to protect eco systems and fauna, to preserve natural beautyand to provide opportunities for scientific research. Following are some types of reserves.

ü Strict natural reserves

ü Nature reserves

ü Forest reserves

ü Sanctuaries

ü National Parks

Strict Natural Reserves

Haggala, Yala and Ritigala are three of the strict natural reserves. Human activities are restricted in these reserves. Wildlife resources are solely owned by the government and the public is permitted to enter these areas only for scientific research purposes.

Nature Reserves

Thriconamadhu, Minneriya, Giritale, Wetahiriyakanda are some of the Nature Reserves in Sri Lanka. The government assures protection of living and non- living resources in these areas. Public cannot enter these areas without permission of the government.

Forest Reserves

Knuckles, Sinharaja, Kanneliya, Dediyagala and Nakiyadeniya are some of the main forest reserves.

Sanctuaries

It is an area reserved for the protection of wildlife. There are about 62 sanctuaries in Sri Lanka. Weeravilla, Kataragama, Kaudulla, Minneriya, Udawatta Kale, Wilapattu, Gal Oya, Trincomalee, Madhu road, Ravana Ella, Victoria, Randenigala, Rantambe, Sigiriya, Bellanvilla, Madunagala are some of the main sanctuaries in Sri Lanka. Sanctuaries are not under severe restrictions. Human activities are permitted in such a way to protect wildlife and their natural habitats.

National Parks

There are about 26 national parks in Sri Lanka. which covers more than 5000 sq. km 7.5% of the total of its land area. Yala, Wilpattu, Gal oya, Kumana, Udawalawa, Vasgamuwa, Lunugam Vehera, Maduru Oya, Somawathie, Horton Plains, Bundala, Minneriya are some of them. The wildlife is completely protected in these national parks. The public can observe the wildlife and the natural environment. Provisions for scientific study are also provided.

Bio diversity of Srilanka

Biodiversity is the term given to the variety of life on earth. It is the variety within and between all species of plants, animals and micro-organisms and the ecosystems within which they live and interact. Sri Lanka has a varied climate and topography, which has resulted in rich biodiversity, distributed within a wide range of ecosystems “The global importance of the island’s biodiversity has placed Sri Lanka together with the Western Ghats of India among the 34 biodiversity hotspots in the world”.

Fish – The species richness of freshwater fish in Sri Lanka, which consist of 82 species, including 44 endemics.

Amphibians – cold blooded vertebrates that breath through their skin and go through a conversion Three types of Amphibians

– Caecilians (shape is like an earthworm)

– Salamanders, Newts and Mudpuppies

– Frogs and Toads

SL has 111 species of amphibians and 95 endemics.

Reptiles – Reptiles are cold-blooded vertebrates. They have dry skin covered with scales or bony plates and usually lay soft-shelled eggs SL has 209 reptile species and 125 are endemics.

Snakes, lizards, geckoes, skinks, turtles, tortoises, crocodiles, and alligators are all reptiles.

Birds – 503 different species of birds have been recorded in Sri Lanka, about 247 are migrants & Vagrants, 256 species are breeding residents. Sri Lanka is home to 33 endemic bird species.

Bird Migration – The movement of birds from their breeding grounds to another area to avoid seasonally adverse climatic conditions and the subsequent return to their original breeding grounds is referred to as migration.

Mammals – There are 125 species of indigenous mammals in Sri Lanka, of which 21 species are endemic to the island.