BBC's Lonely Planet recognizes 'The Gathering'
Sri Lanka is home to 10% of all Asian elephants. In an Island that is only 65,000 square kilometers in area and already home to 21 million people, amazingly there are close to 5,000 elephants in the wild.
- (1888PressRelease) August 16, 2011 - Elephants migrate seasonally for grazing grounds and in search of water in the great African savannah. From Cynthia Moss's Echo of Amboseli to the migrating dessert elephants of Namibia, matriarchs guide their herds with precision towards the next water resource or grazing grounds in many part of the wild world.
Sri Lanka is home to 10% of all Asian elephants. In an Island that is only 65,000 square kilometers in area and already home to 21 million people, amazingly there are close to 5,000 elephants in the wild.
The North Central province of Sri Lanka is home to a mammoth wildlife event known as the "Gathering". This event has eluded world attention as it sat on the fringes of a 30 year conflict that stole the headlines for decades. However the "Gathering" won its due recognition in 2011 when "Lonely Planet" owned by BBC worldwide listed the Elephant Gathering in Sri Lanka as the 6th greatest Animal Spectacle in the world.
This incredible wildlife extravaganza begins to unfold as scattered herds from the Medirigiriya, Somawathiya, Katukeliyawa and Wasgomuwa forests start to congregate around the great Minneriya tank as the drought takes full effect by end July / mid August. Congregating herds by August rises up to 300 or more plus pachyderms setting up an awe inspiring sight every evening as predictable as the great migration of Africa. Is this migration or seasonal movement is still debated but nevertheless, the breathtaking setting of the Minneriya plains, receding water line and fresh grass keeps elephants till late October. With the onset of the North Eastern Monsoon, the herds move towards the Kaudulla National Park and break up with the heavy rains that lashes this region late November.
The 5-star Cinnamon Lodge Habarana and 4-star Chaaya Village Habarana operated by the John Keells Hotels Group, pioneering in distinguished hospitality among Sri Lanka hotels offer the responsible traveller great ease of visiting the Minneriya National Park within 15 minutes. Safaris with accompanying Nature Trails naturalists are available at both properties.
The Nature Trails naturalists are well experienced and had the distinction of being the ground handling managers for an Austin Stevens Animal Planet production on the Gathering which was aired worldwide creating much awareness of this event among the international audience.
The Gathering of 2011 has now dawned, the plains of Minneriya are crowded with countless elephants and it's time for elephant lovers to visit Sri Lanka, the best place in Asia to see elephants and witness the 6th greatest animal spectacle in the world at their door step.
Have you seen the Gathering of 2011 as yet!
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