Fauna of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a teardrop shaped island off the SE coast of India. Wildlife of Sri Lanka includes its flora and fauna and their natural habitats. Sri Lanka has one of the highest rates of biological endemism with 16% of the fauna and 23% of flowering plants being endemic in the world. The country has roughly 123 species of mammals (including elephant, leopard, bear and monkeys), 245 species of butterflies, 173 species of reptiles (including deadly cobras and vipers), 140 species of amphibians and about 430 species of birds. Sri Lanka has 93 species of freshwater fish of which 28 species are categorized as threatened. There are 8 species of brackish water fish that also come to fresh water. In addition there are 24 introduced exotic fish species.

Sri Lanka has the distinction of having the world's oldest recorded wildlife preserve. More than 2000 years ago, in the 3rd century BC, a region in north central Sri Lanka was set aside by royal decree to be free of all hunting. Today, more than 8% of the land is preserved as national park or nature preserve.

Sri Lanka is home to Asian elephants, leopards, monkeys, mongoose, sloth bears, jackals, Sambar and chital deer, water buffalo and wild boars. Reptiles and amphibians include crocodiles and venomous snakes such as kraits, vipers and cobras, plus the more friendly geckos, frogs, and lizards. Bird life is extraordinary and Sri Lanka has over 400 species of birds, with some 25 of them being endemic.

National parks are a class of protected areas in Sri Lanka and are administered by the Department of Wildlife conservation. Visitors are allowed to enter national parks but only for the purpose of observing flora and fauna and with a permit. There are currently 26 national parks which together cover an area of 5,734 square kilo meters.

The ecology of Sri Lanka caused by its geographical position and by its geological & climatic conditions has made the island one of the most bio-diverse spots in the world.