Wildlife

*For its size Sri Lanka boasts an incredible diversity of animal 92 mammal species, 242 butterflies, 435 birds, 107 fish, 98 snakes and more. Given the fragility of the environment in which they live it should come as no surprise that quite a few are vulnerable.

Mammals

*Sri Lanka's mammals include some of the most easily observable of the country's animal species as well as some of the most invisible. Hard to spot are the solitary and mostly nocturnal leopard Sri Lanka's top predator the scavenging golden jackal the shaggy sloth bear the civet (a catlike hunter related to the weasel) the mongoose and the shy armour plated Indian pangolin with overlapping scales made from modified hair.

*Very audible but not always visible are troops of tree bound cackling primates, like common langurs, also known as Hanuman or grey langurs, endemic purple faced langurs hairy bear monkeys and toque macaques notable for their distinctive'dos a thatch of middle parted hair. The slow movements of the slender loris belie its ability to snatch its prey with a lightning quick lunge.

*More often crossed albeit at different times of the day are the majestic Asia elephant the omnivorous and tusked wild boar of Sri Lanka and cervine creatures like the big maned sambar and smaller white spotted Axis deer. The bushy tailed, five striped palm squirrel is commonly seen scurrying around gardens and town parks. These are often also the locations of the large trees in which Indian flying foxes (large fruit eating bats) camp by the hundreds.

*Mammals don't just hide out in the forrests and savannahs. The biggest of all mammals are to be found in the waters off Sri Lanka. Blue whales and slightly smaller sperm whales swim along migration corridors off the coast here. The area around Dondra Head at the southern tip of the country is being hyped as the best place in the world to see blue whales.

Birds

A tropical climate long isolation from the Asian mainland and a diversity of habitats have helped endow Sri Lanksa with an astonishing abundance of birdlife. There are more than 400 species, 26 of which are unique to Sri Lanka others are found only in Sri Lanka and adjacent South India. Of the estimated 198 migrant species most of which are in residence from August to April the waders (sandpipers, plovers etc.) are the long distance champions making the journey from their breeding grounds in the Arctic tundra.

Tips for Birdwatchers

*Visit a variety of habitats- rain forest, urban parks and bodies of water in the dry zone to see the full diversity of birdlife in Sri Lanka.

*February to March is the best time for birdwatching. You miss the monsoons and the migrant birds are still visiting.

*Waterbirds are active for most of the day.

*Although morning is always the best time to go birdwatching in the evening you will see noisy flocks of birds preparing to roost.

*A pair of binoculars is an invaluable tool to help with identification. Small models can be bought cheaply duty free and don't weight much.

*Consider taking a tour with a specialist if you're keen to see the endemic species and achieve a healthy birdwatching tally particularly if time is short.