The Asiatic elephant has a sizeable population, some wild which can be seen in several of the national parks throughout Sri Lanka. The animals come down to the water in the evening, either in family groups or herds of 20 or so. The ‘Marsh Elephants’, an interesting, significantly larger sub-species, are found in the marshy basin of the Mahaweli River. Wild elephants increasingly come into contact with humans in the growing settlements along their traditional migration routes between the northwest and southeast of the island and so the Wildlife Conservation Department is attempting to protect migration corridors from development. Visitors traveling away from the coast may get a chance to see domesticated animals being put to work or watch them at Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage.

Minneriya National Park close to Polonnaruwa offers travelers the best sightings of the annual elephant migration which takes places around August/September each year during the dry season. The drought in the region attracts over 150 to 200 elephants towards the late evenings which is ones of the world’s most fascinating wildlife phenomena today.

The solid looking Asiatic Wild Buffalo, with a black coat and wide-spreading curved horns, stands about 170am at the shoulder. When domesticated, it is known as the water buffalo.

The Leopard, the only big cat found in Sri Lanka, is found both in the dry lowland areas and

in the forested hills. Being shy and elusive, it is rarely seen but Yala National Park offers Wildlife safari enthusiast the best chances of seeing this animal as it boasts to offer the highest density of Leopard population found anywhere in the world.

The Sloth bear, about 75cm at the sholder, can be seen in areas of scrubs and rock. It has an unkempt shaggy coat and is the only bear of the island. Sightings are extremely rare these days with the census reporting only a couple of dozen bears to be living in both Yala and Wilpattu National Parks.

The deer on the island are widespread. The commonest, the Chital (or spotted) deer, is seen in herds of 20 or so in grassy areas. The bright rufous coat spotted with white is unmistakable. The stags carry antlers with three tines. The coat spotted with white is unmistakable. The stags carry antlers with three tines. The magnificent Sambar with its shaggy coat varying from brownish grey to almost black in older stags, is seen in wooded hillsides. The stags carry large three-tines antlers and have a mane-like thickening of the coas around the neck. The Muntjac or barking deer is small and shy. It is brown with darker legs with white underparts an chest. The stag carries a small pair of antlers. Usually found in pairs, their staccato bark is heard more often than they are seen.

The Wild Pig is easily identified by its affinity to the domestic pig. It has a mainly black body sparsely covered with hair except for a thick line along the spine; the young are striped. Only the male bears tusks. Commonly seen in grass and light bush near water it can do great damage to crops. They are some of the first animal you will see when entering any major National Park in Sri Lanka.

The interesting purple-faced Langur is only found in Sri Lanka. A long-tailed, long legged money about 125cm in length, nearly half of it tail, is has a dark coat contrasting with an almost whole head. Hair on the head grows long to form swept back whiskers, but the face itself is almost black. Usually seen in groups of a dozen or so, it lives mainly in the dense, damp mountain forests but is also found in open woodland.

Apart from animals that still live truly in the wild, others have adapted to village and town life and are often seen near temples. The most widespread of the moneys is grey langur, another long-tailed monkey with a black face, hands and feet.

Look out for the flying fox which has a wingspan of 120cm. These are actually fruit-eating bats, found throughout, except in the driest areas. They roost in large, sometimes huge, noisy colonies in tree tops, often in the middle of towns or villages, where they look like folded umbrellas hanging from the trees. In the evening they can be seen leaving the roost with clow measured wing beats.

The ruddy mongoose is usually found in scrubs and open jungle. The brown mongoose can also be seen in gardens and fields. The mongoose is well known as a killer of snakes, but it will also take rats, mice, chickens and bird’s eggs.