People and Wildlife

Sri Lanka carries one of the oldest traditions of wildlife conservation in the world, with roots in environmental stewardship stretching back to 246 BC. This video traces the long arc of that relationship — between the people of Sri Lanka and the wild creatures they have shared their land with — from ancient protective customs through to the damage wrought by colonial rule, and the gradual recovery that has followed.

Today, 13% of Sri Lanka's total land area is set aside as National Wildlife Reserve parks, a figure that reflects both the island's remarkable biodiversity and the ongoing effort to safeguard it. Understanding how that commitment was tested — and very nearly broken — gives vital context to the landscapes and animals visitors encounter here.

A Legacy of Protection

Sri Lanka's tradition of wildlife protection is ancient and well-documented. Tracing back to 246 BC, the island developed a relationship with its forests and fauna that treated sustainable use as a guiding principle rather than an afterthought. Forested hills were maintained, wildlife corridors preserved, and the hunting of animals was governed by custom and, in time, by royal decree.

The Colonial Disruption

That long legacy was shattered during the period of British colonial rule from 1815 to 1948. The colonial administration was, by most historical accounts, determined to exploit the island's natural resources as thoroughly and rapidly as possible. Wooded hills were cleared for commercial cultivation, fundamentally altering the landscape. Game hunting of mammals and birds became widespread, pursued both as sport and as a matter of colonial policy. Most devastating of all was the large-scale slaughter of elephants — thousands were killed during this era, reducing populations that had coexisted with Sri Lankans for millennia.

Recovery and Reservation

The departure of colonial rule in 1948 opened the way for Sri Lanka to rebuild its relationship with its wildlife. Over the decades that followed, the nation worked to restore protections, and the network of national parks and wildlife reserves that exists today is in large part the result of that sustained effort. The fact that 13% of the island's area is now formally reserved for wildlife is a significant achievement, particularly given the scale of the destruction that preceded independence.

The story of people and wildlife in Sri Lanka is ultimately one of resilience — of a conservation ethic that was suppressed but never entirely extinguished, and that has reasserted itself in the protected forests, wetlands and coastlines that define so much of the island's natural character today.