Sinharaja Forest Reserve

The Sinharaja (Lion King) rainforests occupy a broad ridge at the heart of the
island’s wet zone. The only way to get about the reserve is by foot, and excellent
park rangers (at the park entrance) or freelance guides (available through local
hotels) can lead you along slippery trails, pointing out the wealth of
stunning plant, bird and animal life. Entrance tickets are sold at the main Forest
Department office at Kudawa and at Deodawa, 5km from Deniyaya on the Matara
road. On most days the jungle is shrouded by copious rain clouds, which replenish its
deep soils and balance water resources for much of southwestern Sri Lanka. Recognising its importance to the island’s ecosystem, Unesco declared the
Sinharaja Forest Reserve a World Heritage Site in 1989. Sinharaja is bordered by rivers: the Koskulana Ganga in the north and the Gin
Ganga in the south. An old foot track that goes past the Beverley Estate marks the
eastern border, close to the highest peak in the forest, Hinipitigala (1171m). Towards the west the land decreases in elevation. The reserve comprises 189 sq km of primary and modified forest, measuring
about 21km east to west and 3.7km north to south. It was once a royal reserve, and some colonial records refer to it as Rajasinghe Forest. It may have been the
last redoubt of the Sri Lankan lion.

Reaching Sinharaja Rain Forest
From Northern or western parts of the country you can reach Sinharaja Forest
Reserve via Ratnapura, Kiriella, Kalawana, Weddala. From the South you can
enter Sinharaja Rain Forest from Deniyaya. Coming
form Hambantota, Udawalawe you can enter Sinharaja from Rakwana side.

Area of Sinharaja Rain Forest
The total area of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve is 18,900 acres or 7,648 hectares. It ranges in altitude from 300m to 1,170m.

Significance of Sinharaja Forest
SiThe Sinharaja Forest reserve is alsoome to over 50% of Sri Lanka’s endemic
species of mammals and butterflies, as well as many kinds of insects, reptiles and
rare amphibians.

Establishment of Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Most of the area of Sinharaha forest was originally declared a forest reserve
under the Waste Lands Ordinance in 1875. In 1978, Sinharaja Rain Forest was
included in the international network of biosphere reserves, established and
maintained as part of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program. In October 1988, this reserve, together with a northeastern extension of it, was
declared Sri Lanka’s first National Wilderness Heritage Area. In December 1988, the Sinharaja Biosphere Reserve became Sri Lanka’s first natural site to be added
to the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Climate on Sinharaja Rain Forest
Meteorological records gathered from in and around Sinharaja over the last 60
years reveal the annual rainfall of Sinharaja Forest has ranged between 3614mm
to 5006mm and temperatures from 19°C to 34°C. The highest rainfall is owing to
two monsoons: south-west monsoons during May-July and the northeast
monsoons during November-January.

Physical features
Sinharaja Rain Forest is a narrow strip of undulating terrain consists of a series
of ridges and valleys drained by an intricate network of streams, which flow into
the Gin Ganga on the southern boundary and Kalu Ganga, via the Napola Dola, Koskulana Ganga and Kudawa Ganga, on the northern boundary.

Nature trails of Sinharaja Rain Forest
The two main nature trails of Sinharaja Rain Forest are those lead to the peak of
Moulawella and the peak of Sinhagala. Both of these nature trails begins at
Kudawa Conservation Centre (KCC) are equally enjoyable and enlightening. The
forest is densly crowded with tall trees growing in close proximity, but winding
trails make the trekking. Small streams of crystal-clear cool water, that is home
to a variety of fish, toads and crabs, crisscross the trails. And the mixed species of
birds are seen in the canopy of the woods.

Sinhagala Nature Trail
Trail head: Entrance to the protected area, Kudawa Conservation Centre, Weddagala, Kalawana Trail end: Sinhagala Peak Length of the trail: 2.4 km Rise
in elevation gain along the trail: 300m at Trail Head: 473m at Trail End
Approximate time: 5-7 hours Hiking Season: Best months are December to April

Mulawella Nature Trail
Trail head: Entrance to the protected area, Kudawa Conservation Centre, Weddagala, Kalawana Trail end: Mulawella Peak Length of the trail: 2.4 km Rise
in elevation along the trail: 457m at Trail Head to 758m at Trail End
Approximate time: 1-2 hours Hiking Season: Best months are December to April

Birdlife in Sinharaja Rain Forest
Sinharaja Rain Forest is home to numerous indigenous birds such asthe Ceylon
Hanging Parrot (Loriculus beryllinus), the Ceylon Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros
gingalensis), the Ashy-headed Laughing Thrush (Garrulax cinereifrons), Layard’s
parakeet (Psittacula calthripae), the Jungle fowl (Gallus lafayetii ), the Spur fowl
(Galloperdix bicalcarata), the Ceylon Wood Pigeon (Columba torringtonii), the
Brown- capped Babbler (Pellorneum fuscocapillum), the Red-faced Malkoha
(Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus) and the Ceylon Blue Magpie (Urocissa ornate)
among others, are prominent in this area. 19 of Sri Lanka’s 20 species of endemic bird species in Sri Lanka are found in the
Sinharaja Reserve Among the endangered birds are Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, Green-Billed Coucal, Sri Lankan white-headed starling, Red-faced Malkoha, Green-billed Caucal, Sri Lanka Spur fowl Sri Lankan Blue Magpie, and Ashy- headed Babbler, all of which are endemic.

Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians and Butterflies
Out of 12 endemic mammal species of the country 8 are found here. Giant
squirrel, dusky-stripped jungle squirrel, badger mongoose and endemic purplefaced leaf monkey and torque macaque are frequently seen. Many threatened species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and butterflies are
found in the Reserve including the leopard. Endemism among mammals and
butterflies is greater than 50%. Reptiles and amphibia include python, endemic
green pit viper, endemic hump nosed lizard (Lyriocephalus scutatus) and rough- nose horned lizard (Ceratophora aspera).

Conservation Value Sinharaja

Conservation Value Sinharaja is the last extensive primary lowland tropical rain
forest in Sri Lanka. It holds a large number of endemic species of plants and
animals, and a variety of plants of known benefit to man. Sinharaja Forest
Reserve is the last viable remnant of Sri Lanka’s tropical lowland rain forest;
over 60% of the trees are endemic and many of these are rare; and there are 21
endemic bird species, and a number of rare insects, reptiles and amphibians
(IUCN Technical Evaluation). The long-term success of conserving Sinharaja depends upon the sustainable
development of its buffer and peripheral zones through a participatory approach
emphasizing the involvement of local people. Construction of hotels on
peripheral zones and constructions of roads over the protected areas are bound
to result in irrecoverable damages to this world heritage site.