When talking about iconic wildlife destinations, nature lovers usually think about heading to Africa or the Amazon for a safari. But you will be surprise on how many fascinating animals you will find in Sri Lanka, if you choose this beautiful country as your safari destination. There are plenty of unique wild animals in Sri Lanka that you can observe in the wild, especially elephants which sometimes walk on the main roads surrounding the national parks.
Little you may know that Sri Lanka is one the 36 identified global biodiversity hotspots of the world and is home to a wide range of animal and bird life, rarely found elsewhere.
Besides the incredible selection of flora and fauna, the country has some of the finest national parks to be found on the subcontinent, with varied terrain that supports the wildlife.
The wildlife of Sri Lanka is a mix of aquatic and terrestrial animals which include 140 different mammals, up to 400 species of birds and over 170 kinds of reptiles.
So here we have put together a list of some of the most fascinating animals that you might be lucky enough to spot on a wildlife holiday to Sri Lanka with a good operator like Experience Travel Group.
Animals You Can See On A Safari In Sri Lanka
Slender Loris
Lorises are among the oldest surviving primates and are often referred to as proto-simians. They are small, furry and extremely elusive nocturnal creatures that live in the forested habitats of Sri Lanka. The two main species found here are the red and grey slender loris.
While the red slender loris is a rarity, the Popham’s Arboretum in Dambulla, is a haven for the grey slender loris in Sri Lanka. This stunning botanical garden is home to hundreds of tree species, 25 mammals, 60 kinds of birds and is usually on the itinerary of every nature lover.
The only way to get up close to these amazing creatures is by a guided night safari, usually between 7pm and 10pm. A qualified guide will scan the branches with his torch to show the large pair of glowing eyes.
Ceylon Magpie
The Ceylon Magpie or the Sri Lanka Blue Magpie is a brightly colored member of the Corvofae family and is endemic to the country.
The species prefers to hunt in the dense canopy, where it is found to be nimble and highly active. Despite the bird’s ability to adapt to human presence, the Ceylon Magpie is classified as vulnerable, primarily because of habitat loss.
Sinharaja Rainforest Reserve is another magical biodiversity hotspot where you can find the rare Ceylon Magpie. The bird can also be seen in other forested areas like Delwala, Central Highlands and Knuckles.
Blue Whales
Few people are aware that Sri Lanka is one of the prime whale watching destinations in the world. As many as 26 of the 86 whale species found worldwide, have been known to visit Sri Lanka.
Blue Whales, the largest living animal on the planet, can be found particularly on the country’s southern coast at Mirissa from November to April and at Trincomalee on the east coast from June to September.
Out of the two spots, the chances of spotting Blue Whales in Mirissa is the highest, but a whale watching expedition can take 2-3 hours to reach the prime spot so plan for seasickness if you are prone to it.
Sri Lankan Leopard
Larger as compared to its Indian counterpart, the Sri Lankan Leopard also has smaller rosettes and is the apex predator here due to the absence of any other big cat like the tiger or lion.
These elusive animals number between 700-900 individuals and lead a solitary life. Sri Lanka is without doubt the best place to see leopards, especially in Block 1 of the Yala National Park where there is a 50-50 chance of coming across one on a safari.
Apart from the popular and heavily overcrowded Yala, you can spot leopards in the Kumana National Park, adjacent to Yala, in a tranquil environment and without the hordes.
Right opposite to Yala, is the breathtakingly beautiful Wilpattu National Park, the largest reserve in Sri Lanka is home to a healthy population of leopards, besides sloth bears and a variety of birds.
White-Faced Starling
The white-faced starling is an endemic resident breeder of Sri Lanka which is typically found on tall forest trees high up in the canopy.
This small dark-backed starling with a noticeable white face was either found in pairs or small groups in the foothills and lowlands of Sri Lanka.
The white-faced starling can only be found in Sri Lanka over a very narrow altitudal range between 300-1200 m above sea level. They are found mostly on the slopes of the hills of the Sinharaja Rainforest Reserve, always in undisturbed natural forest.
Layard’s Parakeet
The Layard’s Parakeet is a forest bird restricted to the wet lowlands and found in mid-hilly regions up to an elevation of 5000 feet. The bird can be observed in the:
- Sinharaja Rainforest Reserve
- The Peak Wilderness Sanctuary
- Kitulgala Forest
- Kanneliya National Park
- The Riverstone area
- The Udawattakele Forest Reserve
Sloth Bear
The adorable looking sloth bear is an extremely difficult animal to spot in Sri Lanka but that doesn’t mean that no sightings have been reported. Lanka as compared to their nearest cousin, the brown bears, the sloth bear, though clumsy, are excellent tree climbers.
Sloth bears can be seen on top of the fruit trees in the Yala National Park and there is a sizeable population of them in Wilpattu National Park as well.
The best way to see them is to time your visit in either June or July, when the trees in Yala are in full bloom and sloth bears come out to feed on them.
Golden Palm Civet
The Golden Palm Civet is another of Sri Lanka’s exotic endemic species and listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. This golden brown color has rounded ears with hairless edges and large vertical pupils.
The civet is mainly found in lowland rainforest, montane evergreen forests and also dense monsoon forest.
It is totally forest dependent, arboreal, nocturnal and solitary. Its diet consists of fruits and berries and a range of small vertebrates. The golden palm. ciivet is found in the highland sholas and grasslands of the Horton Plains, where you can also see the stripe-necked mongoose and the Sri Lanka Giant Squirrel.
Sri Lankan Spotted Chevrotain
This even-toed ungulate of the chevrotain family is often referred to as the white-spotted or Sri Lankan Spotted Chevrotain. In Sri Lanka the species is found in the dry zone and is replaced in the wet zone by the yellow-striped chevrotain.
Their preferred habitat is secondary rainforest with immature trees and ground level vegetation. While at times it wanders into coconut plantations and home gardens, it can be seen in their natural habitat in Sigriya, Udawalwava National Park and Pigurangla.
For more similar articles check out my recommendations below:
- The best things to do in Kandy
- How two spend 3 days in the Sri Lankan Highlands
- The best 10 days in Sri Lanka itinerary
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