Sri Lanka Holidays

Lion King (Sinharaja) Tropical Rain Forest, Sri Lanka

A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, a world heritage site (1989)
Waterfalls & streams, flora & fauna, ferns & liana, birds & mammals, butterflies & reptiles

To keep up with the Joneses. This time around, it would be Indiana Jones with temperature at 24 degrees centigrade & humidity at about 87% in the 15 million year old Sinharaja Tropical Rain Forest also known as Lion King Tropical Rain Forest of Sri Lanka, a world heritage site.

Pocketed between two sizeable rivers
Sri Lanka is well forested, with more than 8000 ha (19768 acres) of virgin, uninhabited woodland in the Sinharaja Forest alone. Pocketed between two sizeable rivers, namely river Kalu Ganga from the north & river Gin ganga from the south, of the numerous rivers of this paradise like tropical island no larger than state of Virginia, is a virgin tropical rainforest of enormous national significance. Sinharaja Biosphere Reserve is one of the island's outstanding natural wonders & an ecological treasure-box of international significance. The Lion king Rain Forest is believed to have been the last redoubt of the Lanka's lion. Sinharaja stretches from east to west for almost 30 km across the southwest lowland Wet Zone of the island at the southern edges of the hill country, enveloping a series of switchback hills, ridges & valleys ranging in altitude from 300m up to 1170m with a breadth of 3.7 km north to south. An old foot path track that goes past the Beverley Estate marks the eastern border with its highest peak being Hinipitagala (1170 m).

The first records
The first records on Sinharaja date back to Portuguese time when detailed lists of not only names but also agricultural produce were collected for taxation purposes. Having been mapped first by the Dutch, the British made the forest Crown Property in 1840. Naturalist George Henry Thwaites undertook first surveys in the 1850s, recording many plants found in Sinharaja.

Tropical Wet Evergreen Forest
The vegetation of Lion king rain Forest consists of Tropical Wet Evergreen Forest & Topical Lowland Forest, with lofty, very straight dominant trees being a distinctive feature. It is reputed to shelter some 120 trees species, including ironwood, satinwood, teak & ebony. The oldest parts of the rainforest comprise dense stands of towering trees enmeshed in exotic tangles of ferns & lianas; the top of the canopy reaches heights up to 45m with giant Newada trees among others. Nearly all the subcanopy tree found here are rare or endangered. The vegetation below the sub canopy is thick. More than 65% of the 217 types of trees & woody climbers endemic to Sri Lanka's rainforest are found in Sinharaja. Sinharaja receives as much as 5000mm of rainfall annually. As the heart of the island's wet zone, on most days the forest conjures rain clouds that replenish its deep soil & balance water resources for a wide area of southwestern Sri Lanka. Sinharaja's importance lies not just in its pristine nature, but also in the high degree of endemism of its species. Among the carnivorous plants is lovely Baduara. The deep test tube like green flower, Badura, closes its leaf lid whenever an insect creeps in. The flower ages into fiery red.

Endemic species of flora & fauna
A staggering 830 of Sri Lanka's endemic species of flora & fauna are found here, including myriad birds, reptiles & insects, while no less than 60% of the reserve's trees are endemic too. As with its fauna, the forest's trees, ferns & epiphytes are also largely endemic. 65% of Sri Lanka's 220 endemic tree & woody climber species & 270 species of vertebrates have been recorded there.

Mammals & Butterflies
The reserve's most common mammal is the purple-faced langur monkey, while you might also encounter three species of squirrel - the dusky - striped jungle squirrel, flame-striped jungle squirrel & western giant squirrel-along with mongoose. More than half of Sri Lanka's mammals & butterflies have been recorded here. Having said that we must hasten to add that in the dense forest animals can be hard to see. The purple-faced langur monkey is the most commonly seen mammals. There are three species of squirrels. The dusky-striped jungle squirrel, flame-striped jungle squirrel & western giant squirrel. And others include mongooses, sambar, leopards, rusty spotted cats, fishing cats & civets. Porcupines & Pangolins waddle around the forest floor.

Bird population
Sinharaja has one of Sri Lanka's richest bird populations: 21 of the country's 26 endemic species have been recorded here. Unfortunately the density of the forest & the fact that its birds largely inhabit the topmost part of the canopy means that actually seeing is extremely difficult, & probably beyond the patience of all but committed birders-the tantalizing chirrupings of myriad invisible birds are an inevitable accompaniment to any visit to the reserve. It's much easier to spot birds around the edges of the forest, in the agricultural lands, which bound the park. Rare enedemics include red-faced Malkoha, Sri Lanka blue magpie, the white-headed starling, green billed coucal, orange minivets, orioles, white throated kingfishers, Indian pond herons, spotted doves, babblers & many others. Pedestrian Ceylon jungle fowl found here is a more colourful version of & relative to the domestic chicken. An interesting & colourful spectacle is the presence of mixed flocks, sometimes comprising up to 80 species.

A rich reptile population
There's also a rich reptile population including 21 of Sri Lanka's 45 endemic species, amongst them are rare snakes. The most commonly seen reptile is the green garden lizard, while snakes include the endemic Green pit viper (venomous) which inhabit trees, krait (venomous) and Hump-nosed viper (venomous) which lives on the forest floor.

Endemic amphibian species
There are several endemic amphibian species, including the torrent toad, wrinkled frog & Sri Lankan reed frog.

Bats & Insects
Six species of bats have been recorded here. Many of the reserve's bountiful population of insects remain to be classified.

Natural trails
The tree main natural trails are Waturawa trail (4.7 km long), Moulawella trail (7.5 km long) and Sinhagala (Lion Rock) trail (14km long). At Lion Rock (742 m) we can view the unbroken tree canopy of an undisturbed forest & various hill ranges. At moulawella peak (760 m) we can see Adam's Peak & look over forest canopy. Oh! The leeches along the trails. That's a plenty of nuisance. Soap or lighter or salt would do.

National protest
Logging began in 1971, until being banned in the face of national protest in 1977, when the area was declared a national reserve. Sinharaja Rain Forest is now safely protected under UNESCO auspices, using a system whereby inhabitants of twenty two villages which surround the reserve have the right to limited use of the forest's resources, including tapping Kitul palm for honey & jaggery (solidified honey). One of the most coveted species in Sinharaja is rattan, used in making baskets, chairs and other furniture. Several types of rattan exist in the reserve & at least two varieties are considered endangered.