Volume 32 - June 2022
Dear Colleague
As part of our efforts to provide an enriched experience to our loyal partners and guests, we are happy to present the humorous and information-packed Volume 32 of the Ceylon Wilderness Digest.
Happy reading!
Eco Team - Sri Lanka
Your Sri Lankan wilderness specialist
A Spotted Billed Pelican is entertaining his friends
Grisham: A pelican walks into a bar… the bartender says, “Why the long face?” (Everyone laughs)
Wells: You crack me up everytime! We might be smaller than the other pelican species but, I swear we have the best sense of humour.
Hoggart: Well it’s good we have that at least. You can’t tell us apart from the others in this region.
Grisham: What nonsense! We’re the only ones who have these spots on our upper mandibles.
Shaw: Hoggsy old boy, you’re a real stick in the mud. One of these days you’re actually going to get stuck in the mud when you dive down to get some fish.
Hoggart: That will never happen because we pelicans never go that deep do we? Surface level fishing.
Wells: Yes, these long bills and big pouches are so good for catching lots of fish. Excellent design!
Grisham: On that note, did you know that it’s impossible for a toucan to swallow if its beak is full... but a pelican! (Everyone laughs)
Shaw: Another good one Grish! By the way, I saw that your little ones have changed from their white feathers to speckled grey, growing up fast aren’t they?
Grisham: Yes they are! It’s the good environment, plentiful food and safety that’s around us. I suppose that’s why our kind is thriving here but dwindling elsewhere around the world.
Hoggart: Nothing can last forever. There isn't any memory, no matter how intense, that doesn't fade out at last.
Wells: You’re a regular ray of sunshine aren’t you Hoggsy? Grish, lighten the mood please!
Grisham: Ok, ok. What’s the difference between a seagull and a pelican? You can’t sea a pelican! (Everyone laughs)
Story of the Photo
Pelicans generally aren’t fussed about human habitation, so they can be found even in Colombo, wherever shallow water sources are teeming with fish. This group of chums having a cackle over a joke were photographed by Dilum, inside Wilpattu National Park, whilst out on a morning safari from Mahoora Tented Safari Camp in Wilpattu.
An angry squirrel issues a challenge
I will have you know that I am a proud Dusky Striped Squirrel that’s endemic to Sri Lanka! Do you not see the thick dark stripes on my back and the pale stripes running alongside them? Do you not see my glorious bushy tail and its black tip? Hah, ‘rodent’! I challenge you to a duel! Oh, sorry, I didn’t see you there looking up at me. I was just practising some lines from a play I’m in. I’m never this aggressive. In fact, I usually run away whenever danger threatens. You can always tell when I’m scared because my tail fluffs up like a bottle brush!
Fun Facts
You want to know more about the play? Well it’s about a squirrel discovering his origins you see. He was adopted by aristocratic humans and doesn’t know that squirrels are part of the rodent family. Hence his disdain at being called one. He also believes that squirrels eat only fruits, shoots and seeds. There’s a very dramatic scene where he finds out that we forage on the ground and also eat insects and other invertebrates. Very powerful. Written by the famous playwright Twiggy Madarlin. Anyways, I mustn’t get side tracked, nice talking to you, back to rehearsal… En garde villain!
Story of the Photo
Visitors to Explorer by Eco Team in the Sinharaja Rain Forest can easily spot this cute little forest dweller as they are plentiful in the area. Dilum had to stay quite still for quite a while to get this shot of this cute furry creature because they are quite skittish.
A Common Tailorbird wants your attention
I need some feedback on this new mating dance sequence I’m working on. It’s based on this ‘twerking’ thing people do. What? Only females do it. Oh. Back to basics I suppose. That’ll save me some time which will help with the nest-making. Why do they call me Tailorbird? Because I sew leaves together with plant fibres to make a deep cup-like nest. What’s really cool is that the leaves don’t die and stay green. Good camouflage! You can tell by my greenish upper body plumage, rust coloured forehead and crown that I love camo eh?
Fun Facts
I love singing too! You can hear me do my popular hit cheeup-cheeup-cheeup all the time. Usually I’m in the undergrowth when I do this. I’m shy, that’s why I love camo. Also, the undergrowth is a great place to forage for insects. I also love nectar so I hang out around flowers too. As you can see, I love a lot of things, but there’s one thing I hate - Cuckoos. They think it’s ok to lay eggs in another bird's nest. They’re very crafty and lay eggs that are blue and white just like our eggs. When they hatch we have to feed all those chicks and the parents don’t help! How rude. Anyways, thanks for stopping by, come back anytime for another chat.
Story of the Photo
These shy birds are found in most parts of Sri Lanka and can usually be located by following their loud calls. Dilum did just that, whilst taking a walk around the Mahoora Tented Safari Camp in Wilpattu and got this curious shot of a Common Tailorbird.
A Sri Lankan wild buffalo is annoyed
I see you staring at me. You’re wondering ‘what happened to his horn’? Yeah I’m missing one. I had a bad run in with Dirty Harry and his friends Smith & Wesson. They run things around this part of the jungle now. Wild buffaloes are territorial, so fighting is just a way of life. I suppose I was grazing where I shouldn’t have been. But I wish I hadn’t lost the horn. It always helps to have two when a hungry leopard starts eyeing you. Oh I’ve given a few of them some nasty heave-ho’s in my time! They’re the only predator I have to worry about, because even the biggest croc won’t touch a fully grown buffalo like me.
Fun Facts
I used to be the guy that ran things around here, one tonne of pure muscle… even the actual wild buffaloes were scared of me. What? You didn’t know there were other types? Well you get the domesticated buffaloes that belong to people, then you get us feral buffaloes that are descended from the domesticated ones that escaped to the jungles and you get the original-lean-and-mean-viscious jungle buffaloes. I used to hold my own against them all, but now I’m old. I should have just kept my temper and chilled out in a muddy waterhole instead of messing with Harry and his gang. But old habits die hard right?
Story of the Photo
Wild buffaloes can be seen in the vicinity of the Mahoora Tented Safari Camp in Yala thanks to the abundant water holes in the area. This grizzled veteran, however, was photographed inside the Park by Dilum, whilst on a safari.