A Photographic Guide to the Wildlife of Sri Lanka

A Photographic Guide to the Wildlife of Sri Lanka begins with an overview of Sri Lanka’s climate and geography, its wildlife habitats, and phylogenetic groups. Key mammal watching sites are listed. The main part of the book contains concise species descriptions of 450 birds, 122 mammals, 330 butterflies and other insects, 72 reptiles and amphibians, 90 fish, 72 other invertebrates, and 42 trees and herbaceous plants; each one accompanied by a photograph.

Sri Lanka has a strong claim to be the best all-round wildlife-watching destination in the world. No other country has its winning combination of endemic biodiversity; large land mammals, such as the Asian Elephant, Leopard and Sloth Bear; marine mammals, especially the Blue Whale and Sperm Whale, and varied bird species, such as Red-faced Malkoha and Yellow-fronted Barbet. Covering these and many others, this guide is packed with 1,170 different species.

About the Author

Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne is one of Sri Lanka’s most high-profile wildlife personalities. In the words of British TV Naturalist Bill Oddie, no single individual has done so much to brand a country for its wildlife. A graduate from Imperial College, London, he has been passionate about Sri Lanka’s wildlife since the age of three when he went on his first leopard safari in Yala. He has authored and photographed over 300 articles for national and international newspapers and magazines on Sri Lankan biodiversity, travel and business topics. His many books include Wild Sri Lanka and the Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka also published by John Beaufoy Publishing. He branded the Elephant Gathering and introduced the concepts of Leopard Safaris and Dragonfly Safaris in Sri Lanka. He also publicised Sri Lanka as Best for Blue Whale, as the best chance for seeing a super-pod of Sperm Whales on a whale watch and publicised Kalpitiya as a third whale-watching hot spot.He has brought together a team of experts to write about the various species groups.