Sinharaja Rainforest Sri Lanka

Sinharaja Rainforest listed as a Natural World Heritage Site in 1989, this virgin rainforest  has become one of Sri Lanka's major eco-tourism destinations. Described as both a Tropical Lowland Rainforest and a Tropical Wet Evergreen Forest, Sinharaja is undoubtedly a rich treasure trove of nature with a great diversity of habitats, and is a vast repository of Sri Lanka's endemic species found no where else in the world. Bird watching in this ecosystem is particularly interesting because it is home to 95% of the endemic birds of Sri Lanka. 

The forest steeped in deep legend and mystery. The word Sinharaja means, lion (sinha) king (raja) and the popular belief is that the legendary origin of the Sinhala people in Sri Lanka is from the descendants of the union of a princess and the lion king who once lived in the forest. Sinharaja Forest Reserve is one of the least disturbed and biologically unique lowland rain forests now remaining in Sri Lanka.

This unique forest covers an area of approximately 11,200 hectares, measuring east to west 21 kilometres, and from north to  south just under 4 kilometres. The Sinharaja forest was initially declared a Man and Biosphere Reserve (MAB) in 1978, as representative of Tropical Humid Evergreen Forest ecosystem in Sri Lanka and has been recognized by UNESCO as part of it's International Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Subsequently, in 1988 it was declared a National Wilderness Area, under the National Heritage Wilderness Area Act. It is Sri Lanka 's first natural resource to earn this esteemed distinction. Sinharaja Rainforest is situated in the southwest lowland Wet Zone of Sri Lanka, and  spans over the administrative districts of Ratnapura, Galle and Matara.

Sinharaja Rainforest consists of a series of continuous ridges, aligned approximately in an east-west direction, and lies between the tributaries of the Kalu Ganga River in the north and the Gin Ganga River in the south.

Topography:The elevation of the Sinharaja Reserve ranges from 200 to 1,300 metres. It has a rolling terrain consisting mainly of ridges and valleys. The peak of Hinipitigala is the tallest, rising up to approximately 1,150 metres. Other important mountains in the Reserve range between 550-900 metres in height,  namely Moulawella (760m), Kosgulana (797m), Sinharaja (742m), Kohilearambe (575m), Dotalugala (769m), and Tibbottagala (904m).

Plant Life: The vegetation of Sinharaja may be described either as a Tropical Lowland Rain Forest or Tropical Wet Evergreen Forest. Some striking characteristics of the forest are the loftiness of the dominant trees, the straightness of their trunks, the abundance of regeneration and the diversity of species. The average height of the trees varies between 35 - 40 metres. Some individuals rise even up to a staggering 50 metres. The vegetation of Sinharaja is that of humid, wet, evergreen forest type, with a high degree of endemism.

The untapped genetic potential of Sinharaja flora is enormous. Out of the 211 woody trees and lianas so far identified within the Reserve, 139 (66%) are endemic. Similarly, high levels of endemism are perhaps true for the lower plants like ferns, and out of 25 general endemic to Sri Lanka, 13 are represented in Sinharaja Rainforest. The total vegetation density, including trees, shrubs, herbs and seedlings has been estimated to be around 240,000 individuals per hectare, of which 95% comprise of individuals of the ground layer, below 1 metre in height. Animal Life: Preliminary studies on the fauna of Sinharaja have revealed that there is a high degree of endemism among the butterflies, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

An incredible95%of the endemic birds of Sri Lanka are recorded in Sinharaja. Endemism among mammals and butterflies is also greater than 50%. Out of the larger mammals, although elephants were said to be common in the past, there have not been reports of sightings during the last 15 years. However, there have been reports of sightings of animals mainly in the Eastern region of the forest, with the most common animal seen being the Sambhur Deer. The Mouse Deer and Barking deer have also been found within the Reserve. Leopards are very seldom sighted, but their frequent presence has been confirmed by tracks. Brown Mongoose and the Golden Palm Civet have been occasionally spotted, and the most commonly seen primate is the Purple Faced Leaf Monkey.