Where and when:
Minneriya National Park is in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka , about a ten minute drive east from Habarana. Dominated by the man made Minneriya tank, this relatively small park has a huge range of wildlife living in its many habitats, including spotted deer, sambar, purple-faced langur monkeys and macaques, but it is most famous for elephant. During the dry months, from July to October, the tank is on the ‘migration’ route for these huge beasts from many of the surrounding areas as they search for water and fresh grass, all of which has dried up elsewhere. They gather in numbers of up to 300 at this time, beginning the largest meeting of Asian elephants in the world.
Why?
The dry season in Sri Lanka means decreased water-supplies for these massive mammals. They come from far and wide to drink from the Minneriya tank, a man-made water-source that is reliable each year, keeping them coming back. Not only can they find drinking water here, but as the water in the tank recedes it exposes fresh, green shoots of grass on which they can graze. A much tastier treat than dry scrubland! Around the tank there are tall shrubs and forest that provide ample shelter for the elephants during the hot days. When the sun is setting, they begin to emerge, starting off with one or two, building up to 300 at peak times. Here they graze, drink, play and even find mates and socialise.
