Animal world of Sri Lanka. Animals we saw on the island in their natural habitat. Animals of sri lanka sri lanka animal world
Sri Lanka is one of the islands located in the Indian Ocean. Even having visited it several times, its nature never ceases to amaze. The fauna of Sri Lanka is very similar to the fauna of South India. It is varied and rich. The whole island can be considered one big nature reserve where hunting of animals is prohibited. Local population lives in harmony with nature.
One of the spectacular examples of the contact between man and nature is the national park. Yala, which is located on the coast of the Indian Ocean in the southeast of the island. It is here that you can see all the beauty in the best possible way. wildlife and look at a variety of animals. Tourists can observe their behavior in the wild, how adults treat their cubs, and much more that cannot be described in words.
There is a national park around the Polonnaruwa reservoir. Mineria. Due to the sufficient amount of water, there is a very rich flora, and therefore a lot of food and water for animals. In addition, here they have a place to hide, so many animals have made their choice in favor of this place. Only more than two hundred elephants live on the territory of this park, although the area of \u200b\u200bthe park itself is small.
national park Bundala is another amazing place. It differs from others in that there are lagoons, near which more than 20 thousand migratory birds like to rest and refresh themselves. Sea turtles lay their eggs on the local sand dunes. And in the thorny thickets of bushes you can see elephants, wild buffaloes and deer.
Sri Lanka also remained untouched by man Sinharaja is a unique ancient forest. Here everything looks like nature itself created, that is, the forest has its original appearance. Therefore, you should not leave this national park unattended, be sure to set aside time to visit the tropical rainforest.
In 1975 in Pinnawele the largest elephant nursery was organized. All elephants who have lost their parents or those who have been injured by poachers are brought into it. In the nursery, the smallest inhabitants are taught the necessary skills to work on the island, and some are sent to zoos around the world. By visiting the nursery, tourists can see firsthand how elephants are fed milk from a bottle and see the process of their learning.
On the coast Cosgody more than five species live sea turtles. Here guests will see not only adults large sizes, but also very small, newly hatched turtles.
In addition to the popular elephants in Sri Lanka, you can meet other animals. Lynxes, leopards, panthers, jackals, wild cats, several species of monkeys and even huge Ceylon bears live here. You can also see a lot different lizards, crocodiles, snakes, weavers, wild boars and monitor lizards. birds there are many here too. The most beautiful of them are parrots of various bright colors, peacocks, flamingos and storks.
Ceylon bear not like brown. He stands out for his mouth, which resembles a bit of a trunk. Because of the long and mobile lips, local bears are called "slugs". In addition to the monkeys that jump everywhere and often sit on the trees near the huts, flying squirrels, dogs, and foxes also hang on the branches. They cling to branches with their paws and hang upside down like bats. Sometimes you can see branches that are hung with whole clusters of unusual animals. Although this sight is terrifying in appearance, it is not dangerous.
crocodiles live in rivers that are far from the villages. The sizes of local crocodiles reach 8 meters. Swimming in these rivers is strictly prohibited. There are many dangerous people living here. poisonous snakes, the most terrible of them are cobra and tikpalonga.
insects also looked at the island. Several species of butterflies, termites, ants, also live here. malarial mosquitoes and other types of insects.
The island is simply filled with exotic animals. Walking through the forests, tourists can see that chameleons sit on almost every tree, which blend in color with the foliage of the trees. And in the rivers swim monitor lizards, which can be confused with crocodiles. Everyone will be surprised chipmunks, who not only beg for food from vacationers, but also brazenly climb into bags to taste something delicious. Turtles slowly crawl right on the beach sands. And approaching the hut, you should not be surprised if it is guarded by dogs unusual for tourists, but by porcupines.
Visitors also need to be alert when they are nearby. monkeys. They can steal something at any moment, and if someone tries to drive her away, she can even lash out in response. They are very arrogant and are not afraid of anything at all.
elephants are the symbol of Sri Lanka. They come in various colors: black, gray and gray-brown. An elephant safari is something without which it will not be possible to leave Sri Lanka. This business card islands. Do not deny yourself this pleasure. Astride an elephant, tourists make their way through the thickets of vines, move through the swamps and watch the many animals they meet on their way.
Despite the rich world of wild animals, there are also many domestic animals, such as goats, cows, chickens, cats and dogs. Tourists are certainly struck by the fact that the cows here, like other animals, are very thin. The ribs are glowing. But this is not surprising, because the Sri Lankans themselves (local residents) - vertically challenged, thin and black. Sometimes it may seem that they have dried in the sun. Although, for the sake of reliability, it is worth noting that the Sri Lankans are very excited about their livestock.
Dogs they are also common here, they can be seen anywhere. The Sri Lankans do not consider them their friends, but live as if they do not notice them at all. We can assume that they live separately from each other.
Sri Lankan dogs are friendly and will not refuse treats if tourists offer them. And they will not even mind if they are stroked or scratched. But do not forget that these are still animals, and whose reaction cannot always be foreseen, so visitors need to be careful.
As night falls, friendly daytime dogs turn into watchdogs. Therefore, tourists need to be extremely careful during evening walks. If a pack of dogs with barking runs on vacationers, then waving your hand at them, you can scare them away. With all the cold attitude of the Sri Lankans to dogs, recently wealthy people of Sri Lanka have begun to be interested in dog breeds and even get an animal they like. If tourists see a well-groomed dog, then this indicates the well-being of its owner and a high position in society.
In the seas and rivers chic undersea world- These are various types of fish, crustaceans, and molluscs. If travelers can’t decide where to go on vacation, then you should think about it, there is something to see here. Undersea world Sri Lanka will surprise everyone, and the animals of the island will simply shock you.
Being at one with nature, full value of this word, tourists can feel like pioneers - people who found themselves on desert island where only they and nature. Although visitors will always be under the gaze of chipmunks, monkeys, monitor lizards, chameleons, tourists will still be able to take a break from the bustle of the city. So one day you can relax on the beach, the second organize an elephant safari. And if you want to get to know Sri Lanka and the local culture better, you can visit spice gardens, tea plantations, watch how elephants help the locals to work. You can also go on excursions to local attractions, which are enough here.
In addition, guests of the country can get acquainted with the life of wild animals, see their relationship with each other, and observe the interaction between man and animal, which is also interesting. Even those animals that everyone has seen more than once in zoos look completely different here. They do not feel like slaves, but full-fledged residents and peacefully coexist with humans.
Sri Lanka attracts tourists from all over the world precisely with its nature, because animals, birds, insects live in river valleys, mountain gorges, savannahs and jungles. Life is in full swing here and everyone has a chance to look at them with their own eyes. No one has left the island without positive emotions and a sea of impressions.
Quite often in new exotic countries we encounter strange animals. And immediately the questions begin: is it worth being afraid? Isn't he dangerous? Is it possible to iron? Ironing, let's say right away, is not worth anyone - this is a thankless task. Better just take a picture. But in advance to figure out who you can meet on the island of Ceylon, it will be quite useful!
sea turtles
Sri Lanka has long been read as "turtle paradise" - most of sea turtles(5 species out of 8 existing) chose this island for procreation. You can watch them on one of the many turtle farms- disabled turtles are taken care of here, and eggs and small turtles are also “protected”. The fact is that the locals collect turtle eggs for culinary purposes - farm workers try to prevent this: they collect the eggs themselves, wait for the babies to hatch, which are sent back to the ocean at the age of three. Therefore, support good undertakings - do not eat turtles, they are dying out!
Monkey
Of course, no Asian country can do without the ubiquitous monkeys. In Sri Lanka, you can even meet them at home - they are so fearless here (and the locals don’t “chase” them at all). Monkeys are cunning and resourceful - so try to make contact with them as little as possible. And the most important rule: do not touch the kids, a caring mother becomes very aggressive when it comes to her child.
Herons
Whom you do not expect to see here is the herons, of which there are a surprisingly large number in Sri Lanka! Egrets usually "hang out" on rice fields, where you can profit not only from insects, but also more big booty- mouse, frog or snake. And the local "peasants" are only too happy about such help. Also in Ceylon you can meet the yellow Indian heron, which arrives here for the "wintering". Yellow herons nest near fresh water bodies - therefore, you can meet them not as often as their white counterparts.
monitor lizards
If you are in Asia for the first time, be prepared to meet the local "mini-dragon" - the monitor lizard. The monitor lizard looks quite intimidating, despite its rather calm disposition. But we still do not recommend getting too close to it - in case of an unfortunate set of circumstances, the monitor lizard can even attack a person.
And finally, the must-see of our list of fauna: the national bird of Sri Lanka - the jungle rooster. The rooster looks very bright - almost like a decorative parrot. At the same time, it is found only on this island - therefore, you should definitely see someone, but a banking jungle rooster! What will happen, by the way, is not so simple - the bird is very shy!
snakes
And finally, a little about the dangerous animals of Ceylon, which are better not to meet! First of all, it's snakes. On the island are found both non-poisonous and poisonous species- cobras, sand efs, Russell's vipers. It is difficult to meet them during daylight hours and in the tourist area, so follow two rules: do not “climb” into the impenetrable jungle, go only along illuminated roads after sunset.
The fauna of Sri Lanka is diverse and amazing. Today I’ll tell you where in Sri Lanka you can see animals and make good shots.
1. Monkeys, monitor lizards, deer are found on roadsides, as well as in the ruins of ancient cities and Buddhist temples. If you or your guide has good eyesight, then there are many interesting things to find on the roadsides. Most of all here, of course, monkeys. Some even approach cars begging for food. The only thing missing is an outstretched hand :)
And these shots were taken in Anuradhapura
There are also enough monitor lizards. For a person, they are not dangerous, but it’s better not to try to stroke the varanchik, otherwise it can gouge with its powerful tail. Monitor lizards in Sri Lanka are land and water. The latter are dark green with spots; land ones are light brown or beige. Water monitor lizards love to bask in the sun near water bodies, so if you see a stream, you can also find monitor lizards on its banks. For a small fee, you can ask the locals to feed them fish - for the sake of it, they are even ready to stand on their hind legs :)
Land lizards live in burrows, like ordinary small lizards, and also often crawl out to warm themselves.
Deer are found not only in the north and in the Santa Claus team, but also in hot countries, and Sri Lanka - good example. Mostly deer are shy, but sometimes they come out to the road and willingly take food from their hands.
2. Bats hang out in rock crevices and hang in trees. These animals in Sri Lanka are very large, reddish in color, sometimes the size of a cat. On the Internet they are called flying foxes - for their size and color, but the locals call them in English bat, which translates as bat, and definitions like "flying fox" have never been heard :) They are found in crevices of rocks and on trees. The largest collection of them can be found in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya. The trees are literally hung with these winged animals, which at the same time also yell loudly. Locals are on duty under the trees, offering to catch the animal and take a picture of you with it.
3. Chipmunks also live on rocks and trees. These animals move like squirrels, so it is possible to take a picture of them. By the way, there is no protein in Sri Lanka.
4. Elephants also sometimes go to the side of the road. But the best place to observe these animals - the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Elephants left without parents live here. At 10 am, the elephants are taken to bathe, and it is advisable to be in time for the nursery by this time. There are two hotels on the territory of the nursery, the restaurants of which go directly to the bathing place for elephants, + in one of the hotels there are even viewing mini stands. You can also feed elephants for a fee.
5. On south coast Sri Lanka, in Kosgod there is a turtle farm where turtles are grown in special incubators and released into the sea at the age of three days. Sick and injured turtles are also treated here.
But the largest concentration of animals and birds can be seen in the national parks of Sri Lanka. The largest and oldest is Yalla, located on the southern coast of the ocean. The roads there are bad and during the jeep safari it shakes a lot, but for the sake of impressions, you can endure these inconveniences. There are elephants, mongooses, foxes, rabbits, crocodiles, wild boars, deer, moose, monitor lizards and many birds. The safari lasts about 4 hours, the park closes at 6 pm, so winter time You will leave the park at sunset. I do not recommend photographing elephants with close range with a flash, otherwise you can provoke aggressive behavior.
On a jeep safari, a lot depends on the driver of the jeep and his ability to notice small animals and birds.
Finally, there are a lot of stray dogs in Sri Lanka. But, unlike ours, they are peaceful, they do not attack people, they can only beg for food. In size - small and mostly red. There are also cats - the same as ours :)
Sri Lanka is very rich in fauna. The locals react calmly to their living creatures, which cannot be said about us. For four months of life in Sri Lanka, we have seen plenty of strange and quite life-threatening creatures. They got off with a slight fright, but sometimes a slight shock. There were also meetings with friendly animals.
I'll start the story with the most terrible acquaintance, in my opinion.
LIMITS.
Our uninvited guest. He tried to jump over a 2-meter fence in our garden, but he did not succeed. I had to use a mop to politely “ask” for him.
monitor lizards different sizes and colors run everywhere.
It looks like a MARTEN or a LEMURE, but looks much scarier.
It is somehow bald, not very pretty and behaved strangely. It only came at night.
SNAKE.
Snakes crawl quite regularly and anywhere. For example, this is our road near the house.
THE BATS.
They almost always sleep, often on wires, which leads to instant death in the same place. But after death, they remain there to hang.
CHIPMUNS.
You get used to these the fastest. There are millions of them all around.
SCORPIONS.
Here is such a friend ended up in the bedroom, they accidentally stepped on it. It's good that in a slipper.
FLYING COACOCKS.
The size of a cockroach reaches half the palm. Another guest in the bedroom. They covered him with a glass, with a fright.
SPIDERS.
This huge spider climbed into my kitchen and jumped out from under the pan when I picked it up. I'm already used to such surprises, so instead of hysteria, I arranged a photo shoot for him.
PRINCESS FROG.
I have never seen such a beautiful one!
SCOLOPENDRY.
Centipede dangerous for humans. There are quite poisonous, which sometimes leads to lethal outcome. I found this one in the yard massage parlor where she took a relaxation course.
CRAB.
They are not scary, but not when in bed. Voila, photo of a crab under my canopy.
TURTLES.
Fortunately, at least they don’t crawl anywhere. There are special places for turtles.
PEACOCKS.
Peacocks are good to admire, but sometimes you can go crazy from their cries.
Praying Mantises.
This cute praying mantis jumped up and settled on our stairs.
DOGS.
Dogs are common, running all over the island. Almost everyone has lichen or something like that.
CATS.
Such a cute cat lay near the fish market.
MONKEY.
And finally, the visiting card of Sri Lanka is restless monkeys, from which there is no rest. They jump on the roofs all day and sometimes break through the tiles.
No matter what, we are alive and well. We will continue to travel interesting countries what we wish you
Sri Lanka is located in South Asia and is an island. The island of Sri Lanka is washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean and its Bay of Bengal. It is separated from Hindustan by the Gulf of Manar and the Strait of Polk, 50 km wide. so-called. Adam's Bridge - a chain of islands in the Strait of Polk - once completely connected Sri Lanka with the mainland, but, according to the annals, it was destroyed by an earthquake around 1481. The island has a length of 350 km, its width is 180 km at its widest, and it has the same dimensions as Tasmania or Ireland.
The state of Sri Lanka is located between 5`54` and 9`52` northern latitude, 800 km. from the equator. The northern and central parts of the island are in the subequatorial, and South part in equatorial belts. The total area is 65610 sq. km, the length from north to south is 445 km, and from west to east 225 km. According to geologists, the island repeatedly rose from the water and sank again. Over the long centuries, the displacement of geological layers, formed hills, mountains and gorges. The main part of the island is occupied by a plain, the height of which rarely exceeds 100 m above sea level.
In fact, the capital is Colombo (the seat of government and the main institutions of the country are located here), while the official suburb of Colombo is Sri Jaya Vardenapura (Jayawardenapura Kotte), where legislatures countries and a number of administrative organizations.
Relief of Sri Lanka
In the center of the island is the Central Mountain Range. Average Height mountains - 1000-2000 m above sea level, but some peaks rise higher. The most high point islands - Mount Pidurutalagala has a height of 2524 m, then Kirigalpotta - 2395 m, Totopolakanda - 2357 m. However, the most famous is the majestic Adam's Peak (Sri Pada) - 2243 m.
Many rivers of Sri Lanka flow from these mountains. The largest river Mahaweli Ganga (335 km.) originates near Adam's Peak and flows into Indian Ocean in the east of Sri Lanka near Trincomalee. Other rivers Malvanuna Oya - 164 km, Kelani Ganga - 145 km. The only river that does not originate in the mountains, Kala Oya - 148 km, flows from the ancient giant reservoir of Kalaveva, built in the 5th century AD. Many rivers are navigable. Where there are mountains and rivers, there are also waterfalls. At 212 meters, Causlanda Bride Vale, "Bridal Veil" is one of the tallest single-jet waterfalls in the world. Babarakanda waterfall - 241 m. the highest cascade on the island.
The east coast of Sri Lanka is hundreds of kilometers of continuous snow-white beaches, a clear turquoise ocean, Coral reefs and great variety in flora. In the northeast, 6-12 km. from Trincomalee Bay, there are two cozy hotels - Club Oceanic and Nilaveli Beach Hotel from which you can visit unique places for diving and snorkelling, daily excursions are organized to coral island Pidgeon. 14% of the island's territory is occupied National parks, nature reserves and reservations. The largest of them - National Park Yala (309 km from Colombo), Udawalawe National Park (170 km from Colombo), Wasgamuwa National Park (200 km from Colombo), Wilpatu National Park (176 km from Colombo) and Bundala National Park (260 km from Colombo). Colombo).
The southwest coast of Sri Lanka is continuous golden beaches, hotels and small towns - such as Negombo, Marawila, Mount Lavinia, Wadduwa, Kalutara, Beruwala, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Galle. The atmosphere of the resort reigns throughout - the blue ocean, golden sand, coconut palms, chic and inexpensive hotels. The capital of Sri Lanka - the city of Colombo, is located in the western part of the island, on the ocean.
Minerals of Sri Lanka
The ancient Precambrian shield, which lies at the base of the Deccan Plateau of Hindustan, continues in the bowels of Sri Lanka. Among its crystalline rocks lie many minerals. The most famous are deposits of high-quality crystalline graphite, in terms of which Sri Lanka ranks first in the world.
Deposits of phosphorites and mica are being developed. In some coastal areas, large areas are occupied by black monazite sands containing rare and radioactive elements. locals used for the construction of houses laterite, which is formed during the weathering of crystalline rocks containing compounds of aluminum and iron (the latter give laterites a brick-red color). Laterite is easily cut into bricks, which quickly harden when exposed to air.
Sri Lanka is famous for precious stones: rubies, sapphires, topazes, amethysts. As the ancient chronicle "Mahavamsa" testifies, many kings and sultans in other countries adorned their crowns with these stones, mined on the island. Centuries of predatory exploitation has led to the depletion of rich deposits, but mining precious stones still continues.
The country is searching for oil, in the 1970s, Soviet geologists also took part in them. According to experts, there are sedimentary structures on the shelf of Sri Lanka that are promising for oil. Started in the 80s prospecting work in the offshore zone, for which the State Oil Corporation of Sri Lanka has entered into long-term contracts with companies from the United States and Canada. There is an agreement with the commission on oil and natural gas India on joint exploration work.
Inland waters of Sri Lanka
Plain rivers are short, mountain rivers have great hydropower potential. The water in most rivers is warm. The largest rivers are Mahaweli-Ganga, Kelani, Kalu, Aruvi-Aru.
Mahaweli Ganga - largest river in Sri Lanka. Length 335 km. It originates in the central province. Its basin is the largest in the country, covering almost one-fifth of the island's total area. The river reaches the Bay of Bengal in the northwestern part of the island. Six hydroelectric dams have been built on the river.
Climate of Sri Lanka
The climate in Sri Lanka is subequatorial and equatorial monsoon, highly complicated by the relief and the general orientation of the island from north to south. Average annual temperature on the plains about +29-31°С (seasonal fluctuations are insignificant), in the mountainous part - from +16°С to +24°С. sea water temperature all year round above +25°С.
Humidity is high and almost always stays above 75%. Precipitation falls from 1000 (northern and eastern regions) to 5000 ( southwest coast) mm per year. The rainy season is from May to September (southwest monsoon) and from October to April (northeast monsoon), but these periods often have different time frames in different parts of the island.
Flora and fauna of Sri Lanka
The nature of Sri Lanka includes many unique species and is considered one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world. The level of endemism of animals and plants of Sri Lanka is 16% of the entire fauna and 23% of the flowering flora. The flora of Sri Lanka is diverse and has a high degree endemism. It includes 3,210 species of flowering plants from 1,052 genera. 916 species and 18 genera are endemic to the island. There are 8 types of forests in Sri Lanka.
In the south-west, at the foot of the mountains and on their slopes, in some places, dense wet equatorial forests with a huge variety of vegetation (ebony, teak, silk tree, fruit trees). Prickly bushes grow along the northwestern and southeastern coasts, sometimes there are mangrove forests and coconut palms.
Fauna. There are 91 species in Sri Lanka, 41 of which are endangered (9 critically endangered). 16 species endemic to the island, of which 14 are endangered, including the Gubach bear (Melursus ursinus), endemic to the Sri Lankan leopard ( Panthera pardus kotiya) and the Sri Luckian elephant (Elephas maximus maximus), as well as the Indian sambar deer (Cervus unicolor). Among the 11 orders, the largest number of species belongs to the order Chiroptera (30 species). In surrounding Sri Lanka sea waters There are 26 species of the order Cetaceans.
Sri Lanka is home to: 227 bird species (previously up to 486 species were recorded), 46 of which are endangered (10 critically endangered); 171 reptile species are found in Sri Lanka, of which 56 are endangered and 101 species endemic to the island (mostly snakes). BUT largest species represented by two crocodiles: Swamp crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) and combed crocodile(Crocodylus porosus).
Sri Lanka is one of the most species-diverse regions in the world for the class Amphibians. It is home to 106 amphibian species, of which 90 are endemic to the island and this is the highest species density for amphibians in the world. 52 species are endangered, almost all of them (except one) are endemic.
There are 82 species found in Sri Lanka freshwater fish, of which 28 are endangered. Butterflies are represented on the island by 245 species, of which 23 are endemic and are not found anywhere else. 76 species are endangered, especially Pachliopta jophon.
Population of Sri Lanka
Population - 21.3 million (July 2009 estimate). Annual growth - 0.9%. Birth rate - 16.2 per 1000 (fertility - 1.99 births per woman); Mortality - 6.1 per 1000; Emigration - 1.1 per 1000; Infant mortality - 18.5 per 1000; The average life expectancy is 73 years for men, 77 years for women.
Sinhalese make up about 75%, Tamils - about 18% of the population, mainly in northern and eastern regions. There are also Sri Lankan Moors (larakalla - descendants of Arabs) - about 7%, burghers (descendants from mixed marriages with Europeans) - about 0.3%, Veddas (descendants ancient population islands) - about 1 thousand people.
About 70% of the population (mostly Sinhalese) profess Buddhism, 15% - Hinduism (Tamils), 8% - Christianity, 7% - Islam (Sri Lankan Moors). Literacy - 92% of men, 89% of women (according to the 2001 census).
The official languages are Sinhalese and Tamil, widely spoken English language. The religious affiliation of the population also basically corresponds to the national-ethnic composition: Buddhism is practiced by about 70% (mainly Sinhalese), Hinduism - more than 17% (mainly Tamils), Islam and Christianity - approximately 8% each (Moors, burghers, etc.) . Largest cities: Colombo, Moratuwa, Galle, Trincomalee, Jaffna, Kandy.
Source - http://travellanka.ru/geografia.html
http://ru.wikipedia.org/
http://www.shri-lank.ru/