SINHARAJA RAIN FOREST
The Sinharaja forest is the only undisture bed rain forest left in Sri Lanka. It is about 9000 hectares in extent. Many of the plants are very rare. Over 60%. Of the tree species are found only in the lowland wet zone of sri lanka.If these species of trees are allowed to get destroyed, the world would lose them altoge’ther.So it is important that much effort is made to conserve this rich, valuable and fragile habitat.
The sinharaja rain forest is the largest rain forest reserve in Sri Lanka.In 1840 sinharaja became a crown property.In1988 the sinharaja was made a national wilderness area. In 1989 UNESCO included the sinharaja forest in the world heritage list, as the first national heritage of Sri Lanka.
The sinharaja forest is home to many rare animals, birds, butterflies, insects, reotiles and trees. Ferns and mosses grow well as the climate is humid because of heavy rainfall.
The vegetation
Vegetation means trees, shrubs, herbs and woody climbers.The avrege height of trees in the sinharaja verise between 35 to 40 metres.Sometrees are above 50 metres.
The animals and the birds
Sinharaja provides a habitat for animals.The plants provide them with food.There are large mammals as well as small ones living there.The purple feced monkeys can be observed easily.They move about in groups.There are herbivores,carnivores’as well as mixed feeders.The wild pig,the sambur,the movse-deer and the braking-deer are some that you find in the sinharaja.There is also evidence of the presence of the leopard.Among others are the rusty spotted cat and the fishing cat.There are many other varieties of small mammals.
Studies have recorded 147 species of birds.Some threatened species of birds are found in the sinharaja.Among them are the blue magpie the white-headed star ling and the ash-headed babbler.
Reptiles
Studies have recorded 45 varieties of reptiles.These include snakes.Lizatds and tortoises.The viper and the cobra are among the yenomous species.Conservation of sinharaja is of vital necessity.If ensures the maintenance of water resources.It also controls floods,which is a constant threat due to heavy rainfall in the area.
M.D Harshani Pradeepika
Pradeepika6@gmail.com
