Sri Lanka is a haven for various flora and fauna, making it a land rich in biodiversity. As much as we like to explore the wild, there are certain responsibilities vested upon us. Known to be the most-visited and second largest national park in the country, the Yala National Park is now frequented by both locals as well as foreigners.
The park covers 979 square kilometers and is known for its variety of animals such as the Sri Lankan elephant, leopard and other endemic species.
Although we hear much about wildlife conservation, sometimes we tend to forget the basics. It’s not your territory to be meddling with nature. But if you violate the ‘rule of the jungle’ the consequences are beyond imagination.
Hence, let’s take a look at what you should and shouldn’t do while you’re on your much looked forward to safari inside the Yala National Park.
In the spotlight
Recently, Yala was the topic of discussion on social media and various other platforms, particularly due to inconveniences caused to the passengers. Some were at the expense of those in power and others due to political influences. Just a few days ago, Yala once again made headlines following a visit by world renowned big cat expert Jonathan Scott who chose Yala to film his next documentary. We however received news of him allegedly filming during the night especially at times when nobody is allowed to travel about.
But these allegations were denied by several wildlife enthusiasts who happened to have visited Yala during Jonathan’s stay. We also spoke to the Wildlife and Sustainable Development Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera to note down his concerns regarding this allegation.
“We in fact need publicity and for that we will give our fullest support if requested for documentaries from international channels. There’s a need to promote eco-tourism and the country’s tourism industry as well. But the approval is given on the condition of causing no harassment to the animals whatsoever. All proceedings are under the purview of the park warden and any violations of rules will be reported.”
Irresponsible jeep drivers
News of jeep drivers flouting regulations to please visitors did their rounds quite often. Some have engaged in reckless driving and with the increase in jeeps, there are frequent traffic jams inside the premises as well. Most jeeps were said to operate in just one section when the park is originally divided in to five sections. Several other allegations included driving vehicles at high speed, taking jeeps off designated pathways, climbing atop vehicles and obstructing animals are also common.
Be a responsible visitor
Yala is a must-visit destination in your bucket list. But as much as you are excited to go on that safari, you also have to be responsible about what you do when inside. A wildlife safari is essentially an educational experience and doing it with your family and friends will make it all the more exciting.
We’ve put together a useful checklist for you:
· Read up on wildlife, its destruction and get to know the park you’re preparing to visit. Know its history, geography and the inhabitants.
· Get your children and loved ones involved. Bear in mind that you’re visiting a wildlife park and not a circus. Read the Dos and Don’ts that you should remember at all times.
· Be prepared to speak up and act responsibly. Do not condone bad, ugly or selfish behaviour and do not encourage the trekker to break the law which in turn will be a risk to the lives of the animals as well as your friends.
· Yala is 26 times bigger than the city and as of now only two blocks have been opened to the public. This makes the park overly crowded with vehicular traffic especially on public holidays. While new areas with a bigger road network are being considered it’s also an expensive task. Therefore travel around in an orderly manner sticking to designated routes and without speeding at any time during your journey.
· You have to keep in mind that you are in someone else’s territory and always be a responsible nature lover.
The Don’ts
Although many of us visit Yala to spot that one leopard or any other endemic species in Lanka, we often forget certain rules we need to abide by. The next time you visit Yala, do not:
· Move around in your vehicle
· Make unnecessary noises
· Throw garbage
· Exceed the maximum speed limit of 20-25km/h
· Feed any animals
· Smoke
· Take any weapons
· Take any food with a strong odour
· Take photos with the flash on
When inquired from the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) we were also told that if jeep drivers violate the park rules, their permits would be cancelled. Hence they are fined for one to three weeks and if it reaches one month, they will lose their permit.
Do not disturb the animals
While inside the park you need to make sure that you allow the animals to be in peace. Each animal has its own personality and the slightest disturbance could destroy their peace. In order to be a good visitor you need to understand the habitat in addition to their lifestyles and behaviour. If their equilibrium is disturbed you may be asking for trouble and therefore it’s advisable to be educated and prepare yourselves before the journey.
Avoid any kind of interaction with the animals, either verbally or through gestures. It has been found that even the noise of vehicles could affect the feeding patterns of some animals. Therefore be respectful and give them their freedom to roam around freely. Predators may seem to be pressurised since they will be captured on camera which will again affect their hunting, feeding and reproductive habits. Therefore it’s best that you don’t force them to be posing for your photos even if it’s the rarest of species you see in your lifetime.
Do not attempt to chase any animal because it will put them under immense pressure. You have to keep in mind that certain species of birds are quite sensitive especially in their nesting season. They would feel some pressure similarly when a predator is on the prowl. It’s always fun to learn about these animals which in turn would make you a responsible visitor. Be patient at all times and respect your host, for they want you to be amazed and then leave, quietly and unnoticed!
In case of an emergency
When in an unknown habitat, especially one governed by species in the jungle, we need to take extra care. Although animal attacks are rare, you need to keep in mind that they could happen. Animals are highly unpredictable, temperamental and may easily be provoked or spring to action without any prior warnings. Each species behaves differently to the other and they guard their herds and territories. Elephant attacks have so far been the most common and they often offer the highest risk.
In the case of an emergency always be calm and patient and intently listen to the instructions of your trekker. If you are on your own, remain quiet, switch off the engine of your vehicle and stay inside.
In an extremely dangerous situation the trekker may ask you to put foot to pedal. Even in this case keep calm and think rationally. Loud noise should be made only if the trekker asks you to do so or when there’s no other solution.
As long as you are with your trekker you need not worry since he is trained for any eventuality and will keep you out of harm’s way. If you are by yourself, call for help if you are lost or need urgent help.
Report what you see
If you witness any inappropriate behaviour or anything that is a threat to nature do your part by contacting the authorities via +94 770 466 794 or [email protected]
Pics by Manoj Ratnayake
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