Introduction
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon, Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the Maldives. It is part of South Asia. The Sinhalese community forms the majority of the population; Tamils, who are concentrated in the north and east of the island, form the largest ethnic minority.
The country lays
claim to a long and colourful history of over three thousand years, having one of
the longest documented histories in the world. Sri Lanka's rich culture can be
attributed to the many different communities on the island.
The natural beauty of Sri Lanka has led to
the title The Pearl of the Indian Ocean.
The island is laden with lush tropical forests, white beaches and diverse landscapes with rich biodiversity. Lying within the Indomalaya Eco
zone, Sri Lanka is one of the 25 biodiversity hotspots in the world. Although the
country is relatively small in size, it has the highest biodiversity per 10,000 square km in Asia.
The Expedition
The main research area will be The Sinharaja
Forest Reserve situated in the southern highlands. Sinharaja Forest Reserve is
a national park and a biodiversity hotspot in Sri
Lanka. The reptilian fauna of Sinharaja is represented by 45 species, of while
21 are endemic. This includes a large proportion of snakes, several lizards,
tortoises and skinks. Among the lizards, the commonest is the familiar Green
Garden Lizard Calotes calotes.
Several rare and endemic species of lizards are found in the forest like the Hump-nosed Lizard Lyriocephalus scutatus, the largest lizard in the island. The goal of this expedition is to expand the knowledge of the herpetofauna of this unique piece of Southern Asia. Another research area will be Wilpattu National Park and its surroundings where the Sri Lanka chameleon, Chamaeleo zeylanicus occurs.
Several rare and endemic species of lizards are found in the forest like the Hump-nosed Lizard Lyriocephalus scutatus, the largest lizard in the island. The goal of this expedition is to expand the knowledge of the herpetofauna of this unique piece of Southern Asia. Another research area will be Wilpattu National Park and its surroundings where the Sri Lanka chameleon, Chamaeleo zeylanicus occurs.
National Parks
This narrow strip of undulating terrain consists of a series of ridges and valleys. The hilly virgin rainforest, part of the Sri Lanka lowland rain forest ecoregion, was saved from the worst of commercial logging by its inaccessibility. The reserve is only 21 km (13 mi) from east to west, and a maximum of 7 km (4.3 mi) from north to south, but it is a treasure trove of endemic, including trees, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Sinharaja Forest Reserve is home of the remarkable Hump Nosed Lizard Lyriocephalus scutatus and the two very special Ceratophora species C. aspera and C. karu.
Horton Plains
Horton Plains National Park is a protected
area in the central highlands of Sri Lanka is covered by montane grassland and
cloud forest. This plateau at an altitude of 2,100–2,300 metres (6,900–7,500
ft) is rich in biodiversity and many species found here are endemic to the
region. This region was designated a national park in 1988. The plains'
vegetation is grasslands interspersed with montane forest, and includes many
endemic woody plants. Large herds of Sri Lankan deer feature as typical
mammals, and the park is also an important bird area with many species not only
endemic to Sri Lanka but restricted to the Horton Plains. Sri Lanka is
considered a herpetological paradise in the world. About 15
amphibian species inhabit the park.
De Silva has observed six endemic reptiles
from the plains. They are Ceratophora
stoddartii, Calotes nigrilabris, Cophotis srilanica, Lankascincus
taprobanensis, Aspidura trachyprocta and Ptyas mucosa maximus.
Knuckles Range
The Knuckles Mountain Range lies in central Sri Lanka,
northeast of the city of Kandy. The entire area is characterised by its
striking landscapes often robed in thick layers of cloud but in addition to its
aesthetic value the range is of great scientific interest. It is a climatic
microcosm of the rest of Sri Lanka. At higher elevations there is a series of
isolated cloud forests, harbouring a variety of fauna and flora, some of which
cannot be found anywhere else in the world. One of the rarest and most
spectacular reptiles from the Knuckles Range is Ceratophora tennentii.
Wilpattu
National Park
Sri Lanka’s largest and oldest natural sanctuary,
prized for being one of the country’s most diverse ecosystems and home to an
abundance of fauna and flora, ‘the land of lakes’ as Wilpattu National Park is
known, is a treasured haven for all environmentalists and wildlife enthusiasts.
Wilpattu was closed for more than 25 years because of
the civil war between the security forces and the Tamil tigers and it was
re-opened to visitors in 2010. Among the 31 mammals in Wilpattu; Leopards
(Panthera pardus kotiya), Sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) Asian elephants
(Elephas maximus), Spotted Deer, Wild Pig and Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)
are the most important.
Among the reptiles found in Wilpattu the most common
are the Monitor (Varanus bengalensis), the Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus
palustris), the Common cobra (Naja naja), the Rat snake (Ptyas mucosus), the
Indian python (Python molurus), the Star tortoise (Geochelone elegans), the
Pond turtle (Melanonchelys trijuga), the Soft-shelled turtle (Lissemys punctata)
and the Sri Lankan chameleon (Chamaeleo zeylanicus).
Itinerary
Day 1. Wednesday 8/2- Leave Europe - Flight Brussels 10:50 to Mumbai
23:25
Day 2. Thursday 9/2 - Flight Mumbai 02:10 to Colombo 04:45 - Drive to
Sinharaja Rain Forest Kudawa
Day 3. Friday 10/2 - Kudawa
Sinharaja Rain Forest
Day 4. Saturday 11/2 - Kudawa Sinharaja Rain Forest
Day 5. Sunday 12/2 - Kudawa
Sinharaja Rain Forest
Day 6. Monday 13/2 - Drive from Sinharaja to Suriyakanda Sinharaja Morningside
Day 7. Tuesday 14/2 - Sinharaja Morningside
Day 8. Wednesday 15/2 - Sinharaja Morningside
Day 9. Thursday 16/2 - From Suriyakanda to Nuwara Eliya
Day 10. Friday 17/2 - From Nuwara Eliya to Kandy
Day 11. Saturday 18/2 - From Kandy to Dambulla (visit) then to Sigiriya
Day 12. Sunday 19/2 - From Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa then to Anuradhapura
Day 13. Monday 20/2 - From Anuradhapura to Wilpatttu and back
Day 14. Tuesday 21/2 - From Anuradhapura to Wilpatttu and back
Day 15. Wednesday 22/2 - From Anuradhapura to Kalpitiya Alankuda
Day 16. Thursday 23/2 - Kalpitiya Alankuda
Day 17. Friday 24/2 - Kalpitiya Alankuda
Day 18. Saturday 25/2 - From Kalpitiya to Colombo - End of the expedition!
February 9th 2012
The Exo Terra Expedition Team arrives at Colombo Airport
at 04h50 in the morning with Jet Airways. A local representative
will welcome the team and bring them to the vehicles, a mini
van and a 4 wheel drive, which will bring the team to the Rainforest Edge Hotel
or ”Blue Magpie Hotel”, a basic hotel at Kudawa close to the entrance of
the Sinharaja Forest Reserve.
February 10th to 12th 2012 Sinharaja Forest
During 3 days the Sinharaja Forest Reserve will be
explored in search for the exceptional reptiles and amphibians occurring in
this western part of Sirhanaja.
February 13th Suriyakanda
After breakfast the vehicles will bring the members to
the Southern part of the Forest Reserve; the Sinharaja Morningside. The team
will find accommodation in Suriyakanda.
February 14th and 15th Morningside
Despite the small distance, the reptile fauna at
Morningside is very different from the western side of Sinharaja. The Exo Terra
Team will study the rich herpetofauna of this area for the next two days..
February 16th 2012 Horton Plains
After breakfast the team leaves Suriyakanda and head for
Nuwara Eliya.
Around noon Horton Plains will be examined for its particular Herpetofauna. The
night will be spent at Nuwara Eliya, where the team during an night walk.
February 17th Kandy
Only 70 km separates Nuwara Eliya from Kandy. Kandy is considered the cultural
capital of Sri Lanka and has an abundance of history and nature to offer.
Situated at an elevation of 500m above sea level, the historic city of Kandy is
nestled among the misty hills in the central region of Sri Lanka. The shrine
holding the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Lord Buddha (The Temple of the Tooth) is
located in the centre of the city, making Kandy the most venerated city in Sri
Lanka. Classified as a World Heritage City by UNESCO, many Sinhalese traditions
are kept alive in the city’s distinctive music, dance and architecture.
February 18th Knuckles Range
Early in the
morning the team leaves Kandy heading for Knuckles Range, a mountainous
rainforest, home from several endemic agama and other reptiles. Average annual
rainfall lies between 3000-5000ml, and temperature of the region ranges between
5.5 degrees and 35 degrees Celsius. It is a cloud forests with an exquisite
fauna and flora. The night will be spent in the historical city of Sigiriya.
February 19th Sigiriya
After breakfast the Exo Terra team visits the Sigiriya rock (Lion’s rock). Sigiriya is a 175 meters large stone and ancient rock
fortress and palace, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of
gardens, reservoirs, and other structures. Sigiriya is also renowned for its
ancient paintings. It is one of the eight World Heritage Cites of Sri Lanka. It
is also declared by UNESCO as the 8th Wonder of the World.
In the afternoon the team visits Polonnaruwa Today the
ancient city of Polonnaruwa remains one of the best planned archeological relic
sites in the country, standing testimony to the discipline and greatness of the
Kingdom's first rulers. Among the main attractions at Polonnaruwa
are preserved ruins of magnificent royal palaces, enormous Buddhist temples,
intact monumental sculpture in colossal statues carved from sold rock boulders
that once rivaled Anuradhapura in magnificence. The team spends the night in
Anuradhapura.
February 20th Wilpattu
In the morning day trip to Wilpattu National Park.
This national park was closed during the Tamil war from 1988 and reopened in
2010. The park is 131.693 hectares and ranges from 0 to 152 meters above sea-level.
Wilpattu is among the top national parks world renowned for its leopard
population. Except for the crocodile, monitors and snakes little is known about
the other reptiles and amphibians occurring in Wilpattu.
February 21st Wilpattu
Today the more than
60 lakes and pools from Wilpattu, home from the four terrapins occurring in Sri
Lanka, will be explored. Along the 45 km coastline six different species sea turtles are nesting during the breeding
season from January till June.
February 22nd Kilpitiya
After a search in
the surrounding forests the team leaves Anuradhapura for the Kalpitiya peninsula.
February 23rd Kalpitiya
The Exo Team will
examine the forests around Putalam, home of the Sri Lankan chameleon Chamaeleo
zeylanicus.
February 24th Kalpitiya
After breakfast in
company of a naturalist the coastline of Alankuda will be examined for turtle
nests nearby the teams’ accommodation.
February 25th
After packing, the
team returns to Colombo airport for their flights to their respective
homelands.
