The sinharaja forest is only undisturbed rainforest 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 would lose them altogether. So it is important that much effort is made to conserve this rich,valuable and fragile habitat.
The Sinharaja rainforest is the largest rainforest reserve in Sri Lanka.in 1840 Sinharaja became a crown property.In 1988 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 rareanimals,birds,butterflies,insects,reptiles
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 average height of trees in the Sinharaja varies between 35 to 40 metres.Some trees 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 faced monkeys can be observed easily.They move about in groups.There are herbivores,canivores,as well as mixed feeders.The wild pig,the sambur,the mouse-deer and the barking-deer are some that you find in the Sinharaja.There is also evidence of the presence of the leopard.Among others are the rusty sported 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 biue magpie,the white-headed starling and the ash-headed babbler.
Reptiles
