Sanctury & Wild Life
To stand on a mountain, with the trees about you
alive with the twinkling lights of a galaxy of fireflies, and gaze on villages
thousands of feet below, is to experience the spirit of this island. The visual
spectacle is often paralleled by the hauntingly sweet perfumes of the queen of
the night or the large, white, pendulous angels trumpets and all around the
silver bell sounds of tree frogs tinkle a mysterious melody.
Traveling through the mountains of Sri Lanka is always a rewarding experience.
The high country combines with the monsoons to give the island at least four
distinct types of forest, each with its own peculiar complement of plants and
animals. There are wildlife sanctuaries in each area and all are irresistible,
and quite accessible. Sri Lankans have always taken conservation seriously,
perhaps due to their Buddhist principles, with records of animal protection
found even in the ancient text of the mahavamsa.
