A snake charmer's spectacled cobra, Naja naja near Lion's Rock, Sigiriya
A snake charmer with a spectacled cobra, Naja naja near Lion's Rock, Sigiriya
We left Sigiryia for Wilpattu through the acient capital of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura. It is about 100 km and the last part from Anuradhapura to Wilpattu is a nice brand new road. Unfortunately our first and sighting of the Star Tortoise, Geochelone elegans was a roadkill victim. The star tortoise is fairly common in this region as a few others where spotted along this busy road.
Geochelone elegans right off the new A12 Puttalam - Anuradhapura highway.
The Wilpattu National park is breathtaking with its mosaic of forest, grassland and lakes. The birdlife is just overwhelming, from small colorful bee eaters to the majestic Crested Serpent Eagle.
Crested Serpent Eagle in Wilpattu National Park
One of the natural lakes or villus in the park.
Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) at the edge of one of the villus.
These frogs stayed in huge numbers in the many muddy puddles where they had less change to be spotted by one of the many herons or other birds in and around the clearer villus.
Herons are continuously on the look-out for the very abundant frogs in and near the villus.
One of the most common reptiles in the park is without doubt the Bengal monitor (Varanus bengalensis).
The common Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor). The red throat in the breeding season leads to a common incorrect name; "Bloodsucker". The garden lizard is occurs throughout Sri Lanka and is probably the most common lizard on the island. It has been introduced in many other parts of the world, especially the Indian Ocean islands.
The vehicles and the team of park rangers that showed us some of the remotest corners of the park. The rangers were extremely helpful in spotting the extraordinary wildlife.
At the park edge, right next to the Indian Ocean, we found this extremely small agamid lizard of about 5 cm or 2". It is probably Sitina sp. or very closely related as we spotted two different species and only one is recorded from the area.
The one recorded from the area and from many coastal regions around the island is Sitina ponticeriana. These lizards are slightly larger then the ones mentioned above.
Sitina ponticeriana of about 11 cm (4").
On our way out to the park, close to dusk, we spotted a pair of Start Tortoise almost ready to mate. At least we saw the much smaller male was chasing the larger female for several meters before they disappeared in the vegetation.
A pair of Geochelone elegans on the park's dirt road. The smaller male running behind the larger female. Star Tortoises seem to be most active right before sunset.
Our next destination is beach area near Putalam, where we will spend the last days near the ocean to relax after this very intensive expedition!
More to come soon...
