Today we went on Safari! We piled into a jeep and set off with a driver and a spotter to Kandulla national park. Once we got to the park the God's stopped the rain. The roof of the car was peeled back and we stood, watching, as animals and birds were discovered in the jungle. Peacocks were everywhere. The national bird of Sri Lanka presented itself for us. Monkeys sat eating fruit in the trees. Oh! Those arn't termite mounds...those are cobra dens. "If you want to see alligator you must come in the morning when they are coming out to enjoy the hot sun."
But if you want to see elephants...
A hundred elephants gathered in the open marsh land next to the lake. They were enjoying eating the tender grasses. Babies stood with their mothers and played with juvinilles. The elephants would grab grass out of the bog and then shake it out with their trunks. Why are they doing this? "Because they like to shake the dirt out." Oh! They are like me with spinach!
We saw an elephant with a deformed leg. It got hit by a train. It seems that elephants here are much like moose in Alaska. They wander around. They go into the jungle at night and come to the lake or river during the day to cool off. Sometimes, they come into a villiage and eat farmers crops. Sometimes, they like to stand in the road or on the railroad track... There are stands in the trees surrounding the park. In these places villagers sit at night so that if the elephants try to come out of the jungle and into the farms the farmers scare them away. I asked if they use guns or rocks or what. Our guide said, "Oh, the farmers just turn on a light."
On the way home elephants were everywhere along the sides of the road. I could hardly see them because they are camouflaged. Just like the moose hanging out along side the highway. It takes a trained eye. I guess I will have to stay here a bit longer to develop that gift!
(Sorry Lynn Hibdon, great pictures on real camera!)
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