The island of Sri Lanka is arguably one of the most popular ecological tourist destinations in Asia. This one-of-a-kind enchanting island presents a world of opportunities for discovery, where the curious traveller will have the chance to explore the lovely island and its amazing wilderness. Boasting a variety of nature reserves and parks, teeming with animals and hundreds of plant varieties, this little island in the Indian Ocean is a nature lovers paradise. From the lush wetland vegetation of the Sinharaja Rainforest to the vast open Minneriya National Park, the island has many such gems which are just waiting to be discovered.
Located near Polonnaruwa, the Minneriya National Park covers a total area of approximately 8890 hectares of land. The Minneriya Tank is the main lifeline of the park, which sustains the ecosystem within it. The tank was built many years ago by King Parakumbahu, who is regarded as one of the greatest rulers to have governed these lands. After being named as a government-protected nature reserve, the park began to flourish and the birdlife and other animals who call these forests home enjoy freedom from poachers. Elephants and leopards were the animals most affected by poaching, who have now found sanctuary here.
Although legend claims that the Sri Lankan lion was the king of the jungle in the paradise island, the Sri Lankan leopard is the undisputed master of the wild in most jungles and nature reserves in the country. As leopards are known as the most adaptable of all big cats, many varieties of the species can be found in a number of regions across the world.
The Sri Lankan leopard is relatively small compared to others of its kind and can be spotted both at the Yala National Park, Wilpattu National Park and the Minneriya National Park. Although there are rumours that suggest leopards do inhabit the Sinharaja Rainforest, conclusive evidence is yet to be found whether the species has managed to survive in the rainforest.
The sloth bear, dear and several other mammals can also be spotted at the Minneriya National Park. Bird watchers will find that the park boasts a staggering variety of both migratory and resident birds that can be spotted either during the early hours of the day or at dusk.
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Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry
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