|
|
| |
 |
| Our team comprises four professional tour leaders, and several other qualified tour leaders and experts, who have years of experience in observing and studying the birdlife and other wildlife of Sri Lanka. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| » Butterflies | » Mammals | » Reptiles | » Amphibians |
| |
There are a large number of species in each animal group birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, butterflies and dragonflies in Sri Lanka. Many species are usually found in National Parks and Forest Reserves. Other groups such as whales, dolphins, reef fish and deep-sea fish are found in the island’s ocean waters. A large number of tree and plant species complete the richness of nature in Sri Lanka. Our wildlife watching tours for observing a large number of these species are given in the ‘Itineraries’ page. |
| |
 |
|
| |
|
| Mammals to watch in Sri Lanka |
|
| » Land Mammals » Marine mammals |
|
| |
|
Land mammals |
|
It is possible to watch many of the mammals listed below on our usual bird or wildlife watching tours. However if a wildlife watcher is interested in finding most or all mammals in this list, which includes some difficult species (due to being rare and/or elusive) and nocturnal species, it is best to take a special mammal watching tour.
Such a tour can be tailored by replacing and/or adding special sites in the given itineraries according to the visitors ’ requirements. Our team members have acquired special knowledge of such sites to find the difficult and nocturnal species, and thus enable visitors to have a better chance of finding these interesting species. It is also quite possible to combine birdwatching and/or butterfly watching in specialised mammal watching tours.
There are a total of 86 species of land mammals recorded to date in Sri Lanka, including 16 species endemic to the Island.
When to watch mammals in Sri Lanka : Generally, throughout the year it is possible to watch most species which wander in open habitats. However to find certain uncommon and elusive species it is best to look for them during particular seasons when they more frequently emerge into open habitats than other times. Thus the selection of months for tours depends on visitors’ requirements.
Finding nocturnal mammals There are several nocturnal species of mammals which are very interesting to visiting mammal watchers (e.g. two species of Loris, Flying-squirrels, bats, etc.). There are special sites known to our team members to find nocturnal species on tours following each of the general itineraries. They are also knowledgeable and skilful in, and fully equipped for, night mammal watching.
The table below shows the number of possible sites for each species and the number of chances available to try for them on each itinerary. To see the table » Click here
|
 |
Asian Elephant
© Uditha Hettige |
 |
Bear Monkey(highland race of Trachypithecus vetulus)
© Uditha Hettige |
|
| |
|
| Marine mammals |
| Whale and Dolphin Watching in Sri Lanka
Five species of Baleen Whales and 22 species of Toothed Whales and Dolphins have been recorded in the Sri Lankan waters. Of these 8 or more species of the latter groups of cetaceans are encountered out at sea regularly.
Of the above occurring cetaceans we often encounter Blue and Sperm Whales on pelagic excursions. Large pods of Long-snouted Spinner Dolphins are met with, and on occasion these parties include other species of dolphins such as Bottle-nosed, Risso’s, Striped and Spotted. To see the table » Click here |
 |
Spinner Dolphin off western coast
© Lester Perera |
|
| |
|
| Reptiles to watch in Sri Lanka |
|
|
Reptiles are usually hard to see on a general tour if no special attention is given. However, many of the reptiles listed below are not difficult to find on a special reptile watching tour.
If a bird watching or a general wildlife tour is carried out with an interest in this faunal group, what a visitor would come across are tetrapod reptiles (crocodiles, lizards etc.). Snakes (serpentoid reptiles) are difficult to meet with on such tours unless one pays particular attention to find them.
There are 183 species of reptiles recorded in Sri Lanka, out of which 92 are snakes, 72 lizards, 8 turtles and one a tortoise. In Sri Lanka there 46 endemic species of snake and 48 endemic lizards (Saurian).
see the table » Click here
|
 |
Green pit viper
© Uditha Hettige |
|
| |
|
| Amphibians to watch in Sri Lanka |
|
|
Even though amphibians are very hard to see, many of those listed below are not difficult to find in a special amphibian watching tour
During a general wildlife tour what we mainly see are few common amphibians. But to see most of the ones listed below and some other rare species one needs to take such a specialized tour.
There are 102 species of amphibians recorded in Sri Lanka out of which 88 are endemic to the country
To see the table » Click here |
 |
Hour glass Frog
© Uditha Hettige |
 |
|
| |
|
|
