Yet in Sri Lanka, home to some 7,000 wild Asian elephants, a different, more hopeful story is playing out.
It’s a story that’s attracting truckloads of tourists from around the world to witness a stunning wildlife spectacle, simultaneously raising concerns among conservationists about how increasing numbers of visitors may be impacting the large mammals.
In north-central Sri Lanka’s Minneriya National Park, hundreds of elephants travel each year to the shores of an ancient reservoir built by a king more than 1,700 years ago. They’ve made the trip for centuries, coming from across the region to bathe, mate, socialize and, most importantly, to feed as part of an annual event known as “The Gathering.”
During the dry season (July through early November), the water in the reservoir recedes. In its place, lush green grasses grow, providing a veritable feast for the hungry pachyderms.
Between meals, the elephants head into the reservoir, spraying themselves with the shallow, muddy waters to create one of the world’s biggest pool parties.
“Where else you can get so close to so many wild elephants at once.
“Watching massive herds of elephants bathe as the sun sets over the nearby mountains is an experience I’ll never forget.”
Yet in sri lanka home to some 7000 wild asian elephants a different more hopeful story is playing out it’s a story that’s attracting truckloads of tourists from around the world to witness a stunning wildlife spectacle raising concerns among conservationists about how increasing numbers of visitors may be impacting the large mammals
In north-central sri lanka’s minarea national park hundreds of elephants travel each year to the shores of an ancient reservoir built by a king more than 1 700 years ago they’ve made the trip for centuries coming from across the region to bathe mate socialize and most importantly
To feed as part of an annual event known as the gathering during the dry season july through early november the water in the reservoir recedes in its place lush green grasses grow providing a veritable feast for the hungry pachyderms between meals the elephants head into the reservoir spraying themselves with the shallow
Muddy waters to create one of the world’s biggest pool parties where else you can get so close to so many wild elephants at once watching massive herds of elephants bathe as the sun sets over the nearby mountains is an experience i’ll never forget sri lanka mountain in hawala reservoir glamour you