Give Leopards their territory!

Planning on a big cat safari in Sri Lanka? Here's what you need to be mindful of...

The wilds of the Sri Lankan jungles, belong to the wildlife

Untrained safari drivers in Sri Lanka are known to overcrowd an animals territory

The Sri Lanka Leopard (Panthera Pardus Kotiya) is the largest carnivore in the island and the top most predator with no competition from other predators such as tigers or lions. (Although reference to Lions in Sri Lanka's history, the flag, stories of legend & folklore point to their likely existence thousands of years ago). As a result, the Sri Lankan Leopard is  much bolder than in other habitats across Asia or Africa. Spending more time on open roads and jeep tracks, on the ground, stalking without much cover and in daylight.

Think before you book your safari holiday in Sri Lanka....

• Book your safari through respected agents that offer professional Guides & jeep drivers - not only will you enjoy learning about the wildlife in Sri Lanka but your Guide will ensure the territory of an animal is respected.
• Ask for experienced Trackers. Be aware that Trackers allocated to your jeep from the Wildlife Department may not be the most trained and knowledgeable Guides - you may need to remind them of Park Rules - especially of not speeding towards an animal sighting.
• Don't get too close! Be aware that Jeep drivers who tout for work are not trained to respect wildlife and more often than not, will overcrowd an animal - please give wildlife their space and zoom in for the best images.
• Ask for a 4WD safari vehicle. Although the traditional Land Rover jeeps with seating to the sides may not look as comfortable as the newer jeeps with raised seating - they are much safer to travel in and more often than not driven by experienced safari drivers who know the terrain well. The old fashioned Land Rover jeeps can also handle rougher terrain than the new jeeps so you get to explore the more unexplored habitats.

Sri Lankan Leopard has adapted well to different habitats

The Sri Lankan cat has adapted well to different habitats - from the riverine ecosystems in Wilpattu National Park to the more scrub jungles and open plains of Yala and Kumana National Parks. With many small lakes making up their 'home-range' the Sri Lankan Leopard roams freely around the perimeters of each lake to feed on the resident animals of deer, sambhur, wildboar, grey langurs and the occasional buffalo calf. This 'roaming' from one lake to another also provides great opportunities for safari-goers to get their one-great-big-cat photo! 

Be a responsible wildlife tourist  - zoom in from a distance to get that top shot..

Do remember, that the wilds belong to the wildlife. We're merely visitors in their territory.

Give Leopards their territory - Yala Sri Lanka

RAMSAR Wetlands of Sri Lanka

In the whole world, only 34 places have the richest variety of life on earth. Biodiversity hot spots.
Wild places that cover just 2.3% of the Earth's surface. Home to 75% of the planet's most threatened mammals, birds and amphibians. And Sri Lanka is one of them. Home to 6 RAMSAR Wetlands and hundreds of threatened species. An island so wild, free and inspiring.

The 6 Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance in Sri Lanka

1. Annaiwilundawa Tanks Sanctuary
2. Bundala Flora & Fauna Sanctuary
3. Kumana National Park Wetland Cluster 
4. Maduganga Mangrove Lagoon
5. Vankalai Sanctuary
6. Wilpattu National Park Wetland Cluster

The signature 'Birding Safari' by Ayu in the Wild visits four of the six Sites*.

The Convention on Wetlands came into force for Sri Lanka on 15 October 1990. Sri Lanka presently has 6 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance, with a surface area of 198,172 hectares. (All information: www.ramsar.org) (Images: www.ayuinthewild.com) For details of each RAMSAR Site..

Life as a Jungle-farmer

The real Sri Lanka through the eyes of the locals.

Ask anyone who has been on safari with us and they wouldn't deny that community interactions are part of the best memories they have of their safari with Ayu in the Wild.  http://ayuinthewild.com/p7.php

A jungle-farmer's life is tough! Waking up before dawn to collect water, set out to work on the field before the sun becomes unbearably hot and as the day ends, gather firewood before heading home.

Most often, 'Paddy-farmers' (who grow rice)  close to wild Elephant corridors need to stay awake on all-night vigils. Sitting in a tiny watch hut, vulnerable, in the middle of his field or maybe high up on a tree with just a faint light for company. Despite electric fences that are meant to be a deterrent, Elephants still break through, keeping logs on the fence and stepping over! At night, intermittently, each farmer yells out to the other in the next field - a simple tracking mechanism to ensure no one has fallen asleep or come to any harm.

On safari a few weeks ago, we spent some incredible moments with a jungle-farmer and his family experiencing how to cook-like-the-locals-in-the-wild.

We picked vegetables off his plot and helped cook five curries on an open fire of three bricks. Ever tasted prawns grilled on a banana leaf over a wood-fired bbq of sorts? 

After a long safari ride we visited them again as night approached - just to chat about their day and ours. They had even lit a campfire! The jungle-farmers' life is one of incredibly hard work. Yet, they can be the most hospitable people you will ever meet. Talk to them and they never fail to smile!

As the night became cooler from the breeze wafting through the vast lake in front of their tiny clay, wattle and daub hut, our day out on safari came to a perfect end.

If you would like to travel on an experiential wildlife safari contact us on info@ayuinthewild.com

For +It's a Wild, Wild World +Beautiful planet Earth +Amazing Places to See +Explorations 

Vantage points of the wildlife in srilanka

It's not only the wildlife safari goer who wants to be the first to 'spot' some unusual behaviour, a quick movement in the undergrowth or the distant blur of a swift-footed wild animal. In the wild, it can mean the difference between survival ...or not! 'Vantage Points' is our collection of wildlife images captured around our incredibly exciting wildlife parks that have captured the intensity of each animal in getting the best 'spot' to scour for food, catch a bit of sun, attract it's mate  or simply to survive!

On our safaris, we look at a different angle! How do animals behave? What do they do to live and survive? What makes them tick? And we learn all of this on foot, by boat and in safari jeeps. Our safaris are really Experiential adventure tours in the wild.  So out of the ordinary!

Talk to us about your tour in srilanka.
www.ayuinthewild.com
info@ayuinthewild.com
We're also on G+ and Twitter

If you are into +Beautiful planet Earth looking for +Amazing Places to See and love +Wildlife Worldwide +wildlifephotography or are a part of the community at +HQSP Birds +HQSP Animals +HQSP Landscape +Birds in Focus +BIRD LOVERS Worldwide who want a safari to be out of the ordinary, then this one is for you!

The Elephant Gathering + Hidden Trails

‘Elephant Gathering’ + Hidden Trails – 2 night safari or 3 night safari

2 nights/3 days or 3 nights/4 days

• See the world famous 'Gathering' at the Minneriya National Park
• Water based safari on a hidden elephant trail
• Visit the largest National Park in the island renowned for it's Big Cats-Wilpattu National Park
• Bush breakfasts, Bushwalks and sunset drives on hidden elephant trails of the North Western Province, Sri Lanka

Hidden Trails + 4 National Parks - 1 week safari

• See the world famous ‘Gathering’ at the Minneriya National Park
• Water based safaris to see Elephants on islands in the Gal Oya National Park
• Visit the two top Big Game Parks in the island – Yala and Wilpattu National Parks
• Track elephants on foot at sunset in the North West of the island
• Bushwalks and sunset drives on hidden elephant trails across four provinces in Sri Lanka
• Overnight on a tree-top hide experiencing what farmers do to protect their crops from wild elephants
• Night drives on lake-bunds to photograph mammals in the dark

Dates: Only in July, August, September 2013
For Rack Rates, Itineraries & Enquiries: info@ayuinthewild.com
(Discounts off the Rack Rate please register your email address on our blog)

No matter who you travel with or how you choose to witness the magnificent world famous spectacle of the annual 'Gathering', keep in mind that the wilderness belongs to the wild. We are mere intruders and  need to respect the fact that nature really belongs to it's original inhabitants.

We're excited! Just four months and a bit more to go, for the largest mammals on our island to start making their annual trek from  hidden corridors into open grassland in search of food and water. Herding together in pockets of jungles  - some areas, like Minneriya and Kaudulla, well known among Elephant enthusiasts; others, known only among just a handful  of us who have explored off-the-beaten path for decades.

INCLUDED

• Accommodation & meals
• Exclusive use of open-sided 4WD safari jeeps
• Guided by community based Guides who live with the wild
• Exciting activities including bushwalks and sunset drives off-the-beaten-track on hidden animal trails, safari drives in National Parks
• Park fees, cost of safari jeeps and all service charges
• Transfers and English-speaking chauffeur

EXCLUDED

• International airfare/visas to Sri Lanka/Domestic flights
• Items and expenses of a personal nature
• Gratuities for Guides and drivers
• Travel insurance

See our blog page ‘Hidden Elephant Trails 2013’ for more details.

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Elephant on a hidden trail...

He was looking us in the eye. For a moment we wondered if he was going to charge at us, but probably didn't consider us a threat! Check out these moments and more on our  'Ayu in the Wild Invitational Safari 'Hidden Elephant Trails 2013'. See the blog page for more details.

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Lord of the Carnivores, Sri Lanka Why do they mesmerize us so?

It's true. You never tire of them. A single sighting can cause a complete system shut-down. Tripods don't balance. Fingers fumble with camera settings. You even forget that your camera offers any advanced settings!

Even more exciting than getting a great Leopard photo is traveling with a great guide who actually knows about their behavior.
The 'sawing' sounds they make. Their stealth and craftiness when stalking hapless prey. Tracking their pug marks on soft sand during the day and checking their after-dark stalking tactics on night drives. Identifying them by the markings on their forehead. Why do they give birth at a certain time of the year? How do siblings behave? Walking off-the-beaten-paths and maybe, just maybe coming across their scat and checking out their diet!  

Safaris that help you learn about the Lord of the Carnivores www.ayuinthewild.com 

(Specials for registered enquiries from the blog)

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Bushwalks, boat trails and grub in the jungles - Wilpattu & Kaudulla December 2012

There is something about having a meal by a river in the thick of the jungles, which cannot be explained. The thrill that you are actually grabbing some grub 'in the wild'. We were blessed with great weather. Little did we know that monsoons and floods were a few days away. For three nights we slept in jungle enclosed safari lodges, took an idyllic boat ride  in calm waters where purple herons rested among tall reeds, walked along a lake studying the hurried flights of butterflies. And then there were those Asian giants. Elephants at Kaudulla. Well past the 'season' for the world famous 'Gathering', yet over two hundred of them: several generations, majestic matriarchs and the mischievous babies...could have stayed there forever.....www.ayuinthewild.com  

 

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