Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation

Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation Established as per the Extra Ordinary Gazette Notification No. 2187/27 dated 9th August 2020.

International Moon Bear Day - 08TH AugustAugust 8, 2023, International Moon Bear Day is a celebration dedicated to one o...
24/10/2023

International Moon Bear Day - 08TH August

August 8, 2023, International Moon Bear Day is a celebration dedicated to one of the most intriguing species on our planet: The Moon Bear.

Asiatic black bears” called moon bears are one of the world’s eight bear species. Moon bears (ursus thibetanus)have shaggy black fur with a distinctive whitish crescent across the chest and large elongated ears. An adult male weighs 100-200kg, a female about half as much. It’s length average about 130-190cm and 7-10cm tail. Highly intelligent, they have an extensive vocabulary of sounds.
They are omnivorous and feed onacorns, beech nuts, cherries, bamboo shoots, leaves, grasses, grubs, honey and also insects, small mammals, birds and carrion as well.

Moon bears are found across Asia, with numerous subspecies inhabiting areas from Pakistan to Japan. They are skilled climbers aided by their short strong claws, and prefer high altitudes and heavily forested areas. They are typically solitary animals that sleep most of the day in hollow logs, caves, or trees and are good swimmers. They walk on all fours but stand on hind legs to reach food or fight.

Several bear species are dangerous to humans, especially in areas where they have become used to people; elsewhere, they generally avoid humans. Injuries caused by bears are rare, but are widely reported. Bears may attack humans in response to being startled, in defense of young or food, or even for predatory reasons.
Moon bears are crepuscular - active at dawn and dusk. They often hibernate between November and March, and can migrate to higher altitudes in warmer months and descend to lowlands in colder months.

Their mating is usually in late summer and gestation around eight months. Females give birth in caves in spring, usually to twins, which are weaned by three and a half months but stay with their mother for 2-3 years.

The moon bear is vulnerable as IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) standards. Although most bear species are affected by the use of their gallbladders and bile in traditional Chinese medicine, moon bears are the most threatened by this practice. Moon bears are also threatened by habitat loss and illegal hunting of their skins and paws.

- Source: Internet -

International Clouded Leopard Day - 04th August On August 4th, International Clouded Leopard Day raises awareness of the...
24/10/2023

International Clouded Leopard Day - 04th August

On August 4th, International Clouded Leopard Day raises awareness of the plight of the clouded leopard. Both in the wild and in captivity, the clouded leopard needs the help to maintain its current population levels and to grow.

The clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), also called mainland clouded leopard, is one of the most ancient cat species.It has large dusky-grey blotches and irregular spots and stripes reminiscent of clouds, It`s head and body length ranges from 68.6 to 108 cm with a 61 to 91 cm long tail. While more closely related to big cats, the clouded leopard is frequently described on bridging the gap big and small cats.

The clouded leopard is a solitary rare, secretive, arboreal, and nocturnal inhabitant of dense primary forest. It is one of the most talented climbers among the cats. They are capable of descending climbing vertical tree trunks head first, and hang on to branches using their large paws and sharp claws to secure a good grip. They have short, powerful legs equipped with rotating rear ankles that allow them to safely down climb in a head first posture. They can easily jump up to 1.2 m high and when balancing on thin branches, they use their long tails to steer. They use trees as daytime rest sites, but also spend time on the ground when hunting at night.

The clouded leopard occurs from the Himalayan foothills in Nepal, Bhutan and India to Myanmar, southeastern Bangladesh, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and to south of the Yangtze River in China.
Clouded leopards are carnivores. Their chief prey are gibbons, macaques, slow loris, small deer and wild boars, which they ambush from the trees or stalk from the ground. They may also hunt birds and rodents.

They are threatened by habitat loss following large–scale deforestation and commercial poaching for the wildlife trade. Skins, claws and teeth are offered for decoration and clothing, bones and meat as substitute for body parts of the tiger in traditional Asian medicine and tonics, and live animals for the pet trade. Implementation and enforcement of CITES is considered inadequate in Clouded Leopard protection.

- Source: Internet -

International Tiger Day - 29th JulyGlobal Tiger Day is celebrated every year on July 29th as a way to raise awareness ab...
18/10/2023

International Tiger Day - 29th July

Global Tiger Day is celebrated every year on July 29th as a way to raise awareness about this magnificent endangered big cat, Tiger.
The tiger, Panthera tigrisis the largest living cat species and a member of the genus Panthera. There are eight recognized subspecies and only five species are extant; Siberian, Bengal, Indochinese, South China, Sumatran. Siberian tigers, also known as Amur tigers are the largest.

Tiger is most recognizable for its dark vertical stripes on orange fur with a white underside.There is notable sexual dimorphism between male and female tigers, female Tigers are smaller. Generally, males vary in total length 220 to 310 cm and weight between 90 to 300 kgs. Females vary in total length from 190 to 275 cm, weight 65 to 167 kg.

Tigers are powerful Apex predators. They have short thick neck, broad shoulders and massive forelimbs, ideal for grappling with prey while holding on with long retractile clams and broad forepaws. A tiger`s tongue is covered with hard papillae, to scrapple flesh off the bones of prey. It is territorial and generally a solitary but social predator.

Tigers live in wide variety of habitats various types of forests including mangrove swamps, elevators up to 3960 metres and climate variants from warm moist areas to temperature low as -40 degrees Celsius. It now mainly occurs in the Indian subcontinent, the Indochinese Peninsula, Sumathra and the Russian Far East, while its status in the Korean Peninsula is unknown.

They mostly feed on large and medium-sized mammals, particularly ungulates weighing 60–250 kg. Tigers are capable of taking down larger prey like adult gaur and wild water buffalo, but opportunistically eat much smaller prey, such as monkeys, peafowl and other ground-based birds, hares, porcupines and fish. They also prey on other predators, including dogs, leopards, bears, snakes and crocodiles. Tiger attacks on adult Asian elephants and Indian rhinoceros have also been reported. More often, tigers take the more vulnerable small calves.

Tiger cubs stay with their mother for about two years and then become independent, leaving their mother`s home range to establish their own.

Across their range, tigers face unrelenting pressures from poaching, retaliatory killings, and habitat loss. They are forced to compete for space with dense and often growing human populations.

- Source: Internet -

World Nature Conservation Day - 28th JulyEvery year, World Nature Conservation Day is celebrated on July 28. On this day...
18/10/2023

World Nature Conservation Day - 28th July

Every year, World Nature Conservation Day is celebrated on July 28. On this day, people raise awareness about the importance of nature conservation.

At present human usage equivalent of 1.6 Earths to maintain the current way of life and ecosystems will not be able to keep up with the demands. Millions of plants and animals are threatened with extinction. Earth’s land surface has been significantly altered by human actions, including wetland areas. Ocean area is impacted by human activities, including from fisheries and pollution. Most of the world’s marine fish stocks are fully exploited, overexploited or depleted. Agricultural expansion is said to account for loss of terrestrial biodiversity.Some of the biggest threats to wildlife or environment include illegal wildlife trade, habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, and climatechange. Illegal Wildlife Trade is the fourth largest criminal industry in the world, after drugs, arms, and human trafficking.

As the consequences of nature loss, global population, are adversely affected by land degradation, annual global crop production is at risk from pollinator loss, greenhouse gas emissions are generated by land clearing, crop production and fertilization, increase the risk of disease spread and millions of hurricanes because of coastal habitat loss.

Conservation goals include conserving habitat, preventing deforestation, maintaining soil organic matter, halting species extinction, reducing overfishing, and mitigating climate change, managing waste, recycling, reducing water consumption, controlling pollution andcreating public awareness etc.

By understanding the importance of conserving the nature, many steps have been taken by several countries of the world. Many summits have been held and agreements and guidelines adopted in order to conserve the nature. The Kyoto protocol was an international treaty which extended United Nations framework convention on climate change that count state parties to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions. The Paris agreement is an international treaty on climate change adopted in 2015, the agreement covers climate change mitigation adaptation and finance. In 2022, in UN biodiversity Conference (COP15), governments from around the world agreed on a set of goals to guide global action through 2030 to halt and reduce nature loss.

- Source: Internet -

International Day for the Conservation of the mangrove Ecosystems - 26th JulyThe International Day for the Conservation ...
06/09/2023

International Day for the Conservation of the mangrove Ecosystems - 26th July

The International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem is adopted by the UNESCO in 2015 and celebrate annually on July 26th aiming to increase awareness of the significance of mangrove ecosystems.

A mangrove is a shrub or tree that grows in an equatorial climate, typically along coastlines and tidal rivers. They have special adaptations to take in extra oxygen and to remove salt, which allow them to tolerate conditions that would kill most plants. Mangroves have exposed supports roots called prop roots and respiratory or knee roots. The trunks and branches of most mangroves species constantly produce adventitious roots, which descending in arched form, strike at some distance and send up new trunks. Many mangroves are viviparous; their seeds germinate while still attached to the parent tree.

Mangroves are among the most productive ecosystems in the world. Mangrove flora can be categorized as true mangroves and mangrove associates. True mangrove species grow only in mangrove environment and do not extend into terrestrial plant community whereas mangroves associates are found within or in the peripheral areas of mangrove wetlands.

Mangroves provide habitats, feeding grounds, nursery and hunting grounds for animals, protect the lagoons and the estuaries from erosion, reduce pollution of near-shore coastal waters by trapping pollutants, provide recreational grounds, field laboratory for researchers, food and fodder for animals, medicines, pigments, fuel wood, timber for constructions, furniture and for boat building.They make a critical contribution to climate regulation through carbon capture. Unlike terrestrial forests, which store most of their carbon in the trunk and branches, mangroves store most carbon in their root systems and neighboring soil acting as carbon ‘sinks’, locking it away for generations. Also, unlike terrestrial forests, the risk of fire and the accompanying loss of stored carbon is much less likely to occur, making them a safe long-term carbon ‘investment’. Economically, mangroves provide livelihood opportunities for coastal communities through fisheries and ecotourism. The fish, shellfish and other food sources obtained from them play a vital role in the food security of neighboring communities.

50% of global mangrove cover has been lost over the last 50 years. Mangrove ecosystems are under extreme pressure due to human activities. Mangrove are being cut back for firewood, coastal development and for shrimp farming. Pollution from inland sources such as discarded plastics, untreated sewage and nutrients from agriculture badly effect on mangroves. Blue carbon emissions have increased significantly as a result of mangrove deforestation. Mangrove losses for the period 1980–2005 are estimated to be more than 3 million hectares.

The largest tracts of mangrove habitats in Sri Lanka are found in Puttlam Lagoon, Kala Oya basin and Trincomalee.The country is home to nearly 16,000 hectares of mangroves. Sri Lanka has stepped forward to be a Commonwealth Blue Charter Champion and lead an Action Group on Mangrove Restoration.

- Source: Internet -

World Snake Day - 16th JulyWorld Snake Day is an important day when it comes to increasing awareness about the different...
04/09/2023

World Snake Day - 16th July

World Snake Day is an important day when it comes to increasing awareness about the different species of snakes all around the world.

There are about 3,458 species of snakes identified up to now and they are found everywhereexcept in Antarctica, Iceland, Ireland, Greenland, and New Zealand. Most species live on land.

Snakes are elongated, limbless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes. Like all other scaled reptiles, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales which serve several purposes, including trap moisture in arid climates and reduce fiction as snake moves etc.Many species of snakes have skulls with several more joints than their lizard ancestors, enabling them to swallow prey much larger than their heads. Snakes also have forked tongues, which split in to two distinct lines at the top and allows them to sense the direction of smell. To accommodate their narrow bodies, snakes' paired organs such as kidneys appear one in front of the other instead of side by side, and most have only one functional lung. Some species retain a pelvic girdle with a pair of vestigial claws on either side of the cloaca. About once a month snake shed their skin, a process called ecdysis that makes room for growth and gets rid of para…Most species lay eggs, but some species like Sea snakes, give birth to young.

All snakes are strictly carnivorous, preying on small animals including lizards, frogs, other snakes, small mammals, birds, eggs, fish, snails, worms, and insects. Snakes cannot bite or tear their food to pieces, must swallow their prey whole. The eating habits of a snake are largely influenced by body size as smaller snakes eat smaller prey. Juvenile pythons might start out feeding on lizards or mice and graduate to small deer or antelope as an adult.

Snake venom is a highly toxic saliva containing zootoxins that facilitates in the immobilization and digestion of prey. There are about 700 species of front-fang venomous snakes belong to the families viperidae and elapidae. There are an additional 1800 rear fanged species which belong to the family colubridae.

Snake populations are in decline because of habitat destruction, disease, over-harvesting, invasive species, and even climate change. There are roughly a hundred species listed by the IUCN red list as endangered.

- Source: Internet -

World Orca Day - 14th JulyWorld Orca Day is a celebration of orca that takes place annually on July 14th. It`s goal is t...
04/09/2023

World Orca Day - 14th July

World Orca Day is a celebration of orca that takes place annually on July 14th. It`s goal is to increase awareness and protection for orca and the oceans.

The orca (Orcinus orca), or killer whale, is a toothed whale dolphin family.It is recognizable by it`s distinctive black-and-white patterned body. Orcas are one of the most powerful predators in the world. They can be found in all of the world's oceans in a variety of marine environments, from Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas.

Orca males typically range from 6 to 8 metres long and weigh in excess of 6 tonnes . Females are smaller, generally ranging from 5 to 7 m and weighing about 3 to 4 tonnes. Calves at birth weigh about 180 kg and are about 2.4 m long. The skeleton of the orca is typical for an oceanic dolphin, but more robust.

They are sometimes called "wolves of the sea", because they hunt in groups like wolf packs up to 40 individuals. Orcas hunt varied prey including fish, cephalopods, mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles. Different groups may prey on different animals and use different techniques to catch them. They use echolocation to communicate and hunt. Orcas spend most of their time at shallow depths, but occasionally dive several hundred metres depending on their prey.

Day-to-day orca behaviour generally consists of foraging, travelling, resting and socializing. Spyhopping is a behaviour in which a whale holds its head above water to view its surroundings. Resident orcas swim alongside porpoises and other dolphins.They can be trained in captivity and are often described as intelligent. Orcas imitate others, and seem to deliberately teach skills to their kin. Orcas are protective of their young, and other adolescent females often assist the mother in caring for them. In most of times the young Orca go it`s own way, once the bond between juvenile and mother weakens but in some groups the juvenile stay within it throughout its entire life.

In 2008, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) changed its assessment of the orca's conservation status from conservation dependent to data deficient, recognizing that one or more orca types may actually be separate, endangered species. Depletion of prey species, pollution, large-scale oil spills, and habitat disturbance caused by noise and conflicts with boats are the most significant worldwide threats which effect on Orcas.

- Source: Internet -

World Elephant Day - 12th August World Elephant Day is an international annual event on August 12, dedicated to the cons...
25/08/2023

World Elephant Day - 12th August

World Elephant Day is an international annual event on August 12, dedicated to the conservation and protection of the world's elephants.

Elephants are the largest living land animals. Three living species belong tothe family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea are African bush elephant, African forest elephant, and Asian elephant. Extinct relatives of elephants are mammoths and mastodons.

A long proboscis called a trunk, tusks, large ear flaps, pillar-like legs, and tough but sensitive 2.5cm thick grey skin are prominent features of elephants.The elongated and prehensile trunk, or proboscis, consists of both the nose and upper lip, which fuse in early fetal development. Breathing, drinking and eating are vital functions of the trunk. Elephants usually have 26 teeth: the incisors, known as the tusks; 12 deciduous premolars; and 12 molars. Unlike most mammals, teeth are not replaced by new ones emerging from the jaws vertically. Instead, new teeth start at the back of the mouth and push out the old ones.The large ear flaps assist in maintaining a constant body temperature as well as in communication. African elephants have larger ears, concave backs andboth the male and the female possess tusks whereas Asian elephants have smaller ears, convex or level backs and only males have tusks. Elephants are herbivorous and eat leaves, twigs, fruits, barks, grasses, and roots. African elephants mostly browse, while Asian elephants mainly graze. Elephants can eat as much as 300 kg of food and drink 40 L of water in a day. At midday, elephants rest under trees and may doze off while standing. 3 to 4 hours sleeping occurs at night while the animal is lying down. Both males and family groups typically move average maximum 20 km a day.The herd size ranges from 12-20 individuals or more and it is led by the oldest female, or matriarch.Most males live in bachelor herds.

Elephants are found most often in savannas, grasslands, and forests but occupy a wide range of habitats, including deserts, swamps, and highlands in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia.
The Sri Lankan subspecies is the largest and also the darkest of the Asian elephants, with patches of depigmentation, areas with no skin color, on its ears, face, trunk and belly. Today, the Sri Lanka`s elephant is protected under the Sri Lankan law.

The theme for World Elephant Day 2023 is a call to action to end the illegal wildlife trade. We need to work together to save the elephants and to protect these majestic creatures.

- Source: Internet -

World Chimpanzee Day - 14th JulyIn honor of humankind's closest living relative, World Chimpanzee Day is a celebration o...
23/08/2023

World Chimpanzee Day - 14th July

In honor of humankind's closest living relative, World Chimpanzee Day is a celebration of an extraordinary species: chimpanzees! It is held on the 14th of July each year and was established by the Jane Goodall Institute. Dr. Jane Goodall is a world-renowned primatologist.

The chimpanzee, is a species of great ape native to the forest and savannah of tropical Africa. It has four confirmed subspecies and a fifth proposed one. When its close relative the bonobo was more commonly known as the pygmy chimpanzee, this species was often called the common chimpanzee or the robust chimpanzee. Adult chimpanzees have an average standing height of 150cm. Wild adult males weigh between 40 and 70kg with females weighing between 27 and 50kg.The arms of a chimpanzee are longer than its legs and can reach below the knees. The hands have long fingers with short thumbs and flat fingernails. The feet are adapted for grasping, and the big toe is opposable. Chimpanzees normally walk as all fours but they can stand and walk upright.

The chimpanzee is an omnivore. It prefers fruit above all other food items but also eats leaves, leaf buds, seeds, blossoms, stems, pith, bark, resin, honey, soil, insects, birds and their eggs, small to medium-sized mammals, including other primates, Insect species including weaver ant and honey bees. The red colobus ranks at the top of preferred mammal prey.

Chimpanzees display numerous signs of intelligence; remembers symbols, cooperation and self awareness. They use insects to treat their own wounds and those of others. They modify sticks, rocks, grass and leaves and use them when foraging for termites and ants, nuts, honey, algae or water.

Chimpanzees have the widest range of any great ape. They are highly social, They live in communities of several dozen animal, led by an alpha male and his coalition of male allies. They care for their offsprings for years.

They usually sleep in trees and build themselves nests of leaves. They never use the same nest more than once.

Their conservation status is endangered. Deforestation, poaching as a bush meat, selling babies as pets and diseases are major threats for chimpanzees.

- Source: Internet -

Shark Awareness Day - 14th JulyJuly 14 is Shark Awareness Day, a day created to dispel the fear, stigma,myths and misinf...
11/08/2023

Shark Awareness Day - 14th July

July 14 is Shark Awareness Day, a day created to dispel the fear, stigma,myths and misinformation sharks and also to raise awareness about the importance of them to the ocean.

Sharks are one of the oldest species on the planet, with fossil records showing they were in oceans at least 420 million years ago. Modern-day sharks have been around for about 100 million years.

Sharks are a group of elasmobranch fish with a cartilaginous skeleton, five to seven gill slits on the sides of the head, and pectoral fins that are not fused to the head. There are more than 400 living species. They vary in size, the largest shark 13.7m to smallest midwater shark and pigmy ribbontailcatshark , 22 to 25cm.

Their most distinctive feature is razor-sharp teeth. Teeth may be serrated or smooth. Sharks can have as many as seven rows of gnashers and go through up to 30,000 of them in their lifetimes. Another key weapon in their hunting arsenal is their capacity to pick up on electromagnetic fields better than any other animal which enable them to seek out their prey, even if hiding or camouflaged.Fin skeletons are elongated and supported with soft and unsegmented rays, filaments of elastic protein. Most sharks have eight fins. Sharks can only drift away from objects directly in front of them because their fins do not allow them to move in the tail-first direction.

Most sharks are carnivorous.Digestion can take a long time. The food moves from the mouth to a J-shaped stomach, where it is stored and initial digestion occurs. Unwanted items may never get past the stomach, and instead the shark either vomits or turns its stomachs inside out and ejects unwanted items from its mouth.
Sharks live all over the world, from warm tropical lagoons to polar seas. Some even inhabit freshwater lakes and rivers.

The young in many species hatch from eggs within the female and are born alive. Other species may lay eggs or nurture their young in the uterus with a placental attachment to the mother.

The vulnerable status of with many species classed as threatened and some even as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). As top predators, sharks are vitally important for healthy ecosystems, preventing the populations of other animals from getting too large. A balanced ocean ecosystem means a healthy planet, and sharks are essential to maintaining that balance.

- Source: Internet -

World Rainforest Day, celebrated on June 22 every year after it was launched in 2017. It is a joint effort to promote kn...
08/08/2023

World Rainforest Day, celebrated on June 22 every year after it was launched in 2017. It is a joint effort to promote knowledge and inspire action in order to conserve one of the Earth's most valuable resources, rainforests.

A rainforest is an area of tall, mostly evergreen trees and a high amount of rainfall.They are incredibly diverse and complex, home to more than half of the world’s plant and animal species. Most rainforests are structured in four layers: emergent, canopy, understory, and forest floor. Each layer has unique characteristics based on differing levels of water, sunlight, and air circulation. While each layer is distinct, they exist in an interdependent system: processes and species in one layer influence those in another.The forest floor is the darkest of all rainforest layers.

Rainforests cover 6% of the earth and home to 50% of all terrestrial biodiversity. They also play a vital role in global climate patterns by absorbing large amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing carbon in trees and soil. By cycling water through their networks of trees, they create currents that serve to transport water through entire continents, cooling them down and providing them with a reliable water source. Erosion, drought and floods are also prevented by rainforests.

Tropical rainforests provide timber as well as animal products such as meat and hides. Rainforests also have value as tourism destinations and for the ecosystem services provided. Plant-derived medicines are commonly used for fever, fungal infections, burns, gastrointestinal problems, pain, respiratory problems, and wound treatment. At the same time, rainforests are usually being exploited or removed for agricultural purposes, for power plants and for the paper industry. Rainforests are disappearing at an alarmingly fast pace, largely due to human development over the past few centuries.

The Amazon rain forest is the world`s largest rain forest and river system and the most biologically diverse place on the earth.It covers 6.7 million square kilometres and contains millions of species.Sinharaja is the last viable tropical rain forest in Sri Lanka. It was declared as a Natural Heritage Wilderness area on October 21st 1988.

The theme of the world rainforest day 2023 is ` conserve, restore and regenerate.

- Source: Internet -

World Camel Day - 22nd JuneToday is World Camel Day. Every year on June 22nd, it is to celebrate the camel. It is a day ...
31/07/2023

World Camel Day - 22nd June

Today is World Camel Day. Every year on June 22nd, it is to celebrate the camel. It is a day the world pays tribute to these remarkable animals.

There are three surviving species of camel (Genus Camelus). The world's camel population,94% is the one-humped dromedary and the two-humped Bactrian camel makes up 6%. The wild Bactrian camel is now critically endangered.

A camel is a mammal, an even-toed ungulate in the genus Camelus that bears distinctive fatty deposits known as "humps" on its back. Camels are domestic working animals especially suited to their desert habitat and are a vital means of transport for passengers and cargo. They are exploited for milk, meat, wool, hides and fiber and felt from hairto make textile.

Camels have a series of physiological adaptations to withstand long periods of time without any external source of water. Their humps are reservoirs of fatty tissue. Camels' red blood cells are oval rather than circular in shape facilitating the flow of red blood cells during dehydration to withstand high osmotic variation without rupturing when drinking large amounts of water. A 600 kg camel can drink 200 L of water in three minutes. Camels are able to withstand changes in body temperature and water consumption. Their temperature ranges from 34 °C at dawn and steadily increases to 40 °C by sunset, before they cool off at night again. Camels rarely sweat, even when ambient temperatures reach 49 °C. Any sweat ev***rates at the skin level and the heat of v***rization therefore comes from body heat. When the camel exhales, water v***r becomes trapped in their nostrils and is reabsorbed into the body to conserve water.

The camel's thick coat insulates it from the intense heat radiated from desert sand. During the summer the coat becomes lighter in color, reflecting light as well as helping avoid sunburn. The camel's long legs help by keeping its body farther from the ground.Their mouths have a thick leathery lining, allowing them to chew thorny desert plants. Long eyelashes and ear hairs, together with nostrils that can close, form a barrier against sand. The camels' gait and widened feet help them move without sinking into the sand. The kidneys and intestines of a camel are very efficient at reabsorbing water. Camel urine comes out as a thick syrup, and camel faeces are so dry.

Camels, are herbivores, eating grass, grains, wheat and oats.
Many factors threaten its survival, including habitat loss and degradation, desertification due to climate change, and hybridisation with the domestic Bactrian camel.

- Source: Internet -

Address

Ministry Of Wildlife And Forest Conservation No. 1090, Sri Jayawardenapura Mawatha
Rajagiriya
10107

Opening Hours

Monday 08:30 - 16:15
Tuesday 08:30 - 16:15
Wednesday 08:30 - 16:15
Thursday 08:30 - 16:15
Friday 08:30 - 16:15
Saturday 08:30 - 00:15

Telephone

+94113671490

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation:

Share