Wildlife Tourism in Sri Lanka

Wildlife refers to the field of tourism that brings travelers with the main aim of observing local fauna and Sri Lanka is well-positioned to become a wildlife tourism hub. In Sri Lanka 26 national parks are filled with various endemic species the national parks attract wildlife enthusiasts from around the world. The wildlife tourism industry in Sri Lanka is growing annually, and the total revenue of the sector was Rs.1,445 million in 2016 to Rs.1,730 million in 2017 to Rs.2,138 million in 2018 according to data from the Sri Lankan Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) 2018 annual report.

Sri Lanka is the only place where the world's largest mammals, whales, and elephants can be seen together in the same country. In addition, Sri Lanka has a wide and unique range of wildlife spectacles. Sri Lanka has 21 national parks, but only a handful are popular with foreign visitors.

There are about  120 species of mammals,171 species of reptiles,106 species of amphibians,227 species of birds, and one of the world's largest populations of blue whales in Sri Lanka. There are many parks in Sri Lanka and there is an amazing range of fauna and flora, many of which are endemic to Sri Lanka. This includes over 4000 species of flowering plants,245 species of butterflies,85 species of freshwater fish,207 species of reptiles,108 species of amphibians,492 species of birds,95 species of terrestrial mammals, and thousands of invertebrates.

Wildlife places in Sri Lanka

1. Sinharaja Forest Reserve

The Sinharaja forest reserve is the last viable of Sri Lanka's primeval tropical rainforest, featuring cascading waterfalls, bubbling pools, and emerald ferns. Sinharaja forest reserve is located in the forest canopy in the southwest of the island towers up to 45 meters and surprisingly more than two-thirds of the trees are endemic, many of which are considered rare. It is one of the main reasons to visit Sinharajaya is bird watching. Sinharajaya reserve supports more than 80% of the island's bird species and it is the home to endemic birds such as the green-billed coucal, blue magpie, and red-faced malkoha. 

2.Udawalawe National Park 

Udawalawe National Park is located in the south of Sri Lanka's central highlands, Udawalawe National Park is a vast reserve of 119 square miles of grassland, scrub, and riverine forest. The main attraction of this park is the large concentration of Asian elephants found here, it is home to over 400 of these gentle giants, and sightings are almost guaranteed while on safari. It is home to crocodiles, sambars, spotted and barking deer, wild boars, buffaloes, and jackals among other exciting wildlife nearly 200 species of birds have been recorded and birding is superb.

3.Minneriya National Park 

Minneriya national park is located in the North-central province and at just over 300 square miles, it is one of the smallest parks in Sri Lanka. It also features a man-made tank that filters into the Minneriya Reservoir and feeds the park's wildlife during the dry months. Mammals found at Minneriya include deer,purple-faced langur, monkeys, sloth bears, and around 20 leopards, while the park hosts an amazing range of migratory and native birds including the hanging parrot,brown-capped babbler, and green bee-eater.

4. Horton Plains 

In the central highlands, the Horton plains are about 2,100 meters above sea level, making it the highest plateau in Sri Lanka, hence the name 'Roof of the island', The plains consist mostly of cloud forests and lush montane grasslands rich in endemic plants and animals adapted to the cool climate. The elephants disappeared from the area in the 1940s, and the Horton plains were home to various mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. Giant squirrels, wild boars, rusty-spotted cats, and purple-faced langurs are some of the 24 mammal species found here, while the Horton Plains slender loris, one of the world's most endangered primates, is also found in the highlands. Rare lizards such as the rhino-horned lizard inhabit the cloud forests and bird lovers have a large number of migratory and endemic birds to see.

5. Yala National Park 

Yala national park is located on the southeast coast of Sri Lanka and was established as a protected area in 1938, Yala national park is a large reserve with a mix of habitats ranging from open parkland and dense forest to flooded lagoons and high coastal ridges. This diverse terrain supports a wide range of flora and fauna. Yala National park is believed to have the largest number of leopards in the world. The average density of these majestic creatures is as high as one cat per square kilometer, but sightings of the elusive leopard are still rare. The travelers can see sambar and spotted deer, wild boar, crocodile, langur and toque monkey, golden jackal, and sloth bear. Bird life is also abundant here with over 200 species recorded and the reserve is a perfect combination of freshwater, marine, scrub, and forest areas for bird diversity. Travelers can see the number of leopards, which may have sparked renewed interest. Yala has been able to see its increasing number of leopards which may have sparked renewed interest.

Factors affecting wildlife tourism in Sri Lanka 

1. Lack of experiential facilities 

The quality of interpretation and knowledge transfer in all wildlife parks is woefully inadequate. There are no proper interpretive centers and the few established through a grant in Yala, Minneriya, and Udawalawa are not maintained and most of the interactive exhibits are already broken. Overcrowding in national parks and the unruly behavior of jeep drivers, reducing the respect given to the very animals that should be protected are doing a lot of damage to the reputation of Sri Lanka's wildlife parks.

2.  Lack of infrastructure and convenience

Not all wildlife parks have tourist facilities; in many cases, even basic and acceptable toilet facilities are not available. Some concerns have already been raised by tour operators about the high entry fees charged to wildlife parks.

3. Branding and Positioning 

There have been many failed attempts to promote Sri Lanka as a wildlife, nature, or eco-tourism destination. So it will be very difficult to completely change this perception. The current residency distribution pattern overwhelmingly confirms that Sri Lanka is first and foremost a beach destination. However, Sri Lanka scores heavily on its various tourist attractions.

Sri Lanka can carve out a place for wildlife tourism to enhance the overall tourism offering the destination can offer. Glaciers are the main agent of the richness of the island, allowing large land mammals to colonize and survive in Sri Lanka. A new report has identified major threats to Sri Lanka's river diversion, habitat loss, pollution, invasive species, over-exploitation, and climate change, as well as updated the catalog of the island's rich flora and fauna.

The elephants and wildlife conservation project have an award-winning approach to protecting elephants and wildlife found in the national park and local communities. Volunteers work with the local team to support their initiatives to help elephants and communities live together in harmony.

The steps that should be taken to protect wildlife tourism in Sri Lanka 

Wildlife tourism like this is booming, raising much-needed funds and awareness for conservation efforts. However, there is a dark side to this business, where many tourists unknowingly encourage the capture of wild animals or put animals at risk by supporting activities that cause them pain or distress, especially in Sri Lanka. There are some ways to protect wildlife tourism in Sri Lanka.

1. The travelers should know to avoid music while in the safari car.

2. Don't abuse or feed animals.

3. Do not light cigarettes in protected areas, as it may burn dry leaves that start a fire.

4. Admire wildlife from a distance and maintain a safe distance from them.

5. Don't litter, instead dispose of waste in the garbage bag provided in the vehicle.

6. Don't drive the car too fast while honking the horn.

7. Do not drive in restricted areas.

By doing these things travelers can protect wildlife tourism in Sri Lanka. Tourists should take a responsible approach to education, and recreation, taking care not to harm the forest or wildlife. Wildlife should be conserved as it preserves the ecological balance.