WILDERNESS UPDATES
The misadventures of the Purple-faced langur in folklore and occult
The misadventures of the Purple-faced langur in folklore and occult
Fun Facts
There is no shortage of whimsical tales, folklore and myths surrounding primates in Sri Lanka. From the story of the monkey that lost its tail by being too curious (thus turned into Man!), to the clever hat seller who was...
Eating venomous insects and other self-care tips for Blue-tailed bee-eaters
Eating venomous insects and other self-care tips for Blue-tailed bee-eaters
Fun Facts
Spend at least 10% of your day as a Blue-tailed bee-eater on self-care activities, which gives you a better chance of survival! These include sunbathing, dust-bathing and good ol’ fashioned water bathing. Catching those morning rays helps warm you up,...
Cheat days, tactical shells, and the endangered Indian star tortoise
Cheat days, tactical shells, and the endangered Indian star tortoise
Fun Facts
Though the Indian star tortoise is a herbivore – usually eating leaves, fruit, berries and flowers – decaying animal carcass is secretly on the menu in the wild! Their striking and practical shell pattern of yellow-striped stars helps them camouflage...
The Grizzled Giant Squirrels manifesto to a balanced diet and population control
The Grizzled Giant Squirrels manifesto to a balanced diet and population control
Fun Facts
We the Grizzled Giant Squirrel, Ratufa macroura, need to stay omnivorous to maintain a balanced diet and superior image: it is strictly suggested to eat nuts, seeds, fruits, fungi – especially mushrooms, green vegetation, tree bark for fibre,...
Terminator: Rise of the Indian Chameleons
Terminator: Rise of the Indian Chameleons
Fun Facts
Likened to the Arnold Schwarzenegger of the Old World lizards, nothing escapes the Indian chameleon’s peripheral view. Each eye has the incredible range of motion of 90 degrees vertically and 180 degrees horizontally, and can also move in opposite directions, allowing the chameleon to...
Deviant milkshake brings all the robber flies to the yard
Deviant milkshake brings all the robber flies to the yard
Fun Facts
The common name for members of the Asilidae family is the Robber fly. This Robber fly (or informally called the ‘assassin fly’ and jokingly the ‘IRS fly’) prefers to hunt mid-flight and has a beak enclosing a dagger-like shaft. When...
The Indian peafowl’s scientifically-proven method to getting attention
The Indian peafowl’s scientifically-proven method to getting attention
Fun Facts
Method 1 – microscopic, crystal-like structures that reflect different wavelengths of light (depending on how they’re spaced), resulting in feathers of bright fluorescent colours to bedazzle any mate! However, if the peahen is too far to notice (long-distance relationships rarely work), there...
The hedonistic Gray slender loris and traditional hocus-pocus
The hedonistic Gray slender loris and traditional hocus-pocus
Fun Facts
Gray slender lorises are endemic to Sri Lanka and nocturnal primates who take the phrase ‘all night long’ to the next level! When a female consents to a sexual encounter (which sometimes involves laying upside down) it usually lasts for 3 –...
The art of pelican seduction and general community integration
The art of pelican seduction and general community integration
Fun Facts
Before a Spot-billed pelican can become a family bird, they need to prove they’re good dancers as a marital prerequisite! This courtship solo dance involves males to puff up their pouch and use swinging motions and head-bobbing, followed by a hip-hop...
Memoirs of a mugger crocodile housewife
Memoirs of a mugger crocodile housewife
Fun Facts
“I know I’m not as big as my saltie cousin, but where I lack in brawn, I make up for in brains! I’m one of the first reptiles to use culinary tools, by setting traps for birds. My easy dinner recipe for quick water...
The chilled out and slightly deaf ninja squirrel of Sri Lanka
The chilled out and slightly deaf ninja squirrel of Sri Lanka
Fun Facts
When Sri Lankan giant squirrels aren’t in ninja mode, you can find them chilling out spread-eagled on a shady tree branch! However, their true ninja prowess can be observed through watching them nail the long jump of 6m between...
The misunderstanding which turned a bear into a sloth
The misunderstanding which turned a bear into a sloth
Fun Facts
There isn’t a funnier origin story of how animals were named, than the story of the Sloth bear! Originally classified as belonging to the sloth family in the 1700s, thus named Bear sloth, Baloo was finally recognised as a bear when...
The chuckling and slightly sadistic little island bird
The chuckling and slightly sadistic little island bird
Fun Facts
In captivity, White-throated kingfishers have been noted to rarely drink water (much like an imprisonment hunger strike), although they bathe regularly (hygiene > water). The call of this kingfisher is a chuckling chake-ake-ake-ake-ake. They’re particularly louder during mating season, so if you...
Cat got your tongue, amongst other body parts?
Cat got your tongue, amongst other body parts?
Fun Facts
The Sri Lankan Leopard is the largest leopard in the world (mostly a polite way of saying ‘fat’), due to being the king of the jungle here! A true gentle-cat, leopards communicate with each other through distinctive calls; when a male wants...
The hybrid wolf that plays hide and seek
The hybrid wolf that plays hide and seek
Fun Facts
Much to the annoyance of wildlife photographers who take their hybrid wolf photography quite seriously, the Sri Lankan jackal goes to great lengths in hiding their cubs from cameras! Not only are they masters of hide and seek, they are also omnivorous...
Old World Monkey Politics and casual placenta-eating dominance
Old World Monkey Politics and casual placenta-eating dominance
Fun Facts
Though the stereotypical monkey is known to be playful and mischievous, these primates take their caste system quite seriously! Toque macaques are born into their caste, and leaving the troop is the only way a male can rise to the top of...
The sashimi-loving, Sri Lankan aunty of Wilpattu
The sashimi-loving, Sri Lankan aunty of Wilpattu
Brown Fish Owl (Ketupa zeylonensis)Wilpattu National Park
They dined on mice, and slices of fish, Which they ate with a feet spoon; And wing in wing, on the edge of the trees, They watched by the light of the moon, The moon, The moon, They watched by the light of the...
Doe: a deer, a dancing deer of Horton Plains
Doe: a deer, a dancing deer of Horton Plains
Sri Lankan Sambar DeerHorton Plains National Park
Fun FactsWhen you see Sri Lankan sambar dancing around, they aren’t communicating a secret message via scent marking and foot stamping, but simply playing in the rain! Prancing around the hills – a fun dance number...
The party animal of Kalawewa
The party animal of Kalawewa
Tusker NeelaKalawewa National Park
Fun FactsOf the local male elephant population, only seven percent are tuskers – a trait that makes female elephants swoon! Even though Kalawewa boasts a high concentration of tuskers in Sri Lanka, Neela’s tall, dark and handsome features brings all the girls to...
The tragicomedy actor of Sinharaja
The tragicomedy actor of Sinharaja
Hump-nosed Lizard (Lyriocephalus scutatus)Sinharaja Rainforest
Fun FactsAll the world’s a stage, and all the hump-nosed lizards are merely reptilian players! Easily identifiable by the hump-like structure on top of its nose, and thus named quite aptly, the hump-nosed lizard is as theatrical as it looks. This species...
My Mahoora family and other animals
My Mahoora family and other animals
Being a wildlife photographer and naturalist is more of a passion than profession. Thus, naturally, in 2012 I joined the Mahoora Tented Safari Camp family as a naturalist, and explored Sri Lanka’s wildest National Parks around the country. Yala, Udawalawe, Wilpattu, Minneriya, Wasgamuwa, Kumana, and...
The tispy black!
The tipsy black?
This comical little furball is a Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), Or “Walaha” as commonly known in Sri Lanka.
Ever seen a tipsy bear? Well if you come between July to September you just might be able to! Palu is a tree that bears a fruit that's irresistible to the...
The shadows of the Jungle
The shadows of the Jungle
That dark silhouette looking at you from a treetop through the thick jungle is non-other than the Sri Lankan Brown Fish Owl (Ketupa zeylonensis).
If this is your competition in your next fishing trip you might not have much of a chance! That yellow circle in the...
Knocking horns!
Knocking horns!
Known as the “Thith Muwa” in Sinhala literally converts to “spotted deer”. Also called by other names such as Chital or Axis Deer is one of the most common animals you will see in most local national parks in Sri Lanka.
They are the motion detectors of the wild! Any...
Creatures of the night!
Creatures of the night!
If you a Sri Lankan this is one of those creatures who’s name is very popular but only a handful has ever seen one. “Unahapuluwa” as called in Sinhala is the grey slender loris (Loris lydekkerianus), one of the 2 Loris species found in the country.
With a...
Prowling in tea country to save the leopard
Stunning, sleek and spectacular, yet powerful and graceful, are these tawny and spotted creatures as they stride along the mountain ridges, masters of all they survey.
Let them live………protect their territory, will be the earnest and fervent plea to tea companies in the Central Highlands on behalf of Sri Lanka’s biggest predator – our very own Big Cat, the leopard.
Panthera pardus kotiya which is a sub-species unique to the country, not found anywhere else in the world, is tragically an endangered species.
National Parks of Sri Lanka
Situated in the heart of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is renowned for its array of untouched habitats and its thriving biodiversity. It has become one of the most popular wildlife destinations in Asia owing to its exciting big game wildlife tours and its many national parks, some of which are recognised as World Heritage Sites.
Sri Lanka’s 26 national parks are filled with exotic animals and plant life, some of which are endemic to the island. The Sri Lankan leopard, elephant, and sloth bear are endemic to the country while, together with the Blue Whale and Sperm Whale, they make up the country’s Big Five mammals that attract hordes of tourists each year.
The wildlife of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is second to none in terms of its biodiversity and can be considered the best for big game safaris outside the African continent. As bold a statement as that may be, Sri Lanka’s wildlife credentials speak for itself.
Sri Lanka’s Big Five – leopard, elephant, sloth bear, blue whale, and sperm whale – are known as the country’s great wildlife attractions. These species are just some of the country’s plethora of wild species of fauna. It is also renowned as a birder’s paradise with an array of endemic, migratory, and resident avifauna found in its 70 Important Bird Areas strewn across its diverse landscape. Sri Lanka is also famous for its abundance of exotic flora.
Wonderful stay at Mahoora Tented Safari Camp Yala
"From the moment we were picked up to the moment we sadly had to leave, Mahoora staff provided us with an experience we will never forget. We did 2 safaris, 1 afternoon and 1 the next morning. So lucky to witness leopard up close and be able to watch her hunt!!!
All staff at the camp are to be highly commended. We loved every minute of it and hope to be back for longer next time"
The Allan Family, Australia
April 2018
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Wasgamuwa National Park - Minneriya National Park - Gal Oya National Park - Knuckles Mountain Range - Sinharaja Rain Forest
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Mahoora Tented Safari Camps, 20/63, Fairfield Garden, Colombo 08, Sri Lanka
[M] : (+94) 70 222 8 222 [F] : +94 (0) 115 330 581
Office Hours: 8.30 a.m to 5.30 p.m [UTC+5.30] (Monday to Friday)
[M] : (+94) 70 222 8 222 [F] : +94 (0) 115 330 581
Office Hours: 8.30 a.m to 5.30 p.m [UTC+5.30] (Monday to Friday)
WhatsApp Number: +94 71 068 2200
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