April 2025 – Wild Store

Trincomalee’s Coral Reefs: Snorkeling Nilaveli’s Underwater Eden

Nilaveli’s coral reefs, fringing Trincomalee’s northeastern coast, pulse with 283 fish species across 471 hectares of Pigeon Island National Marine Park, a snorkeler’s paradise where 85% of 2024 visitors spotted blacktip reef sharks (SLTDA, 2024). Yet, 15% of these corals faced bleaching in 2024 due to rising sea temperatures (Biodiversity Sri Lanka, 2024). Inspired by […]

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Ella’s Tea Estate Wilderness: Serenity at 98 Acres Resort

Perched at 1,000 meters in Sri Lanka’s misty Central Highlands, 98 Acres Resort & Spa sprawls across a 98-acre tea estate in Ella, blending eco-luxury with rolling green hills. Its 12 chalets, crafted from recycled railway sleepers, earned a 9.3/10 rating from 2024 guests for their panoramic views and sustainable design (Booking.com, 2024). Surrounded by

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Knuckles Range Trek: Sri Lanka’s Cloud Forest Quest

The Knuckles Range, a rugged 155 km² massif in Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands, rises like a clenched fist through swirling mists, its cloud forests sheltering 34 endemic vertebrates and ancient trails. Named for its knuckle-like peaks, this UNESCO World Heritage Site delivered breathtaking views to 90% of 2024 trekkers, with 70% spotting Knuckles pygmy lizards

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Jetwing Vil Uyana: Sigiriya’s Eco-Luxury Haven

Tucked in the lush plains near Sigiriya’s iconic Lion Rock, Jetwing Vil Uyana redefines eco-luxury, blending 36 private dwellings with wetlands teeming with lorises and kingfishers. This 24-acre retreat, a pioneer in sustainable hospitality, earned a 9.2/10 rating from 2024 guests for its serene villas and wildlife proximity (Booking.com, 2024). In 2024, 80% of night

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The Red Slender Loris: Sri Lanka’s Nocturnal Ninja

In the tangled rainforests of Sri Lanka’s Wet Zone, the red slender loris (Loris tardigradus), a pint-sized primate with saucer-like eyes, moves like a shadow through the canopy. This nocturnal ninja, one of two loris species in Sri Lanka, clings to branches in Horton Plains and Sinharaja, but 12% of its lowland forest habitat vanished

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Kayaking the Madu River: A Mangrove Odyssey

The Madu River, a shimmering ribbon of life in Sri Lanka’s Southern Province, weaves through Balapitiya’s mangrove forests, teeming with otters, kingfishers, and ancient ecosystems. This Ramsar-designated wetland, spanning 915 hectares, harbors 14 of Sri Lanka’s 24 mangrove species and 248 animal species, yet faces a 1% annual habitat loss from pollution and development (Lakpura,

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Saving the Fishing Cat: Sri Lanka’s Wetland Warrior

In the bustling heart of Colombo, where canals snake through urban sprawl, the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), a nocturnal predator with leopard-like spots and webbed paws, thrives against the odds. This endangered feline, Sri Lanka’s second-largest wild cat, is a master angler, diving into wetlands to snatch fish with semi-retractable claws. In 2024, Colombo’s urban

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Staying at Rainforest Eco Lodge: Sinharaja’s Green Sanctuary

Tucked into the misty edges of Sinharaja Rain Forest, the Rainforest Eco Lodge stands as a beacon of eco-luxury, where recycled shipping containers transform into chalets overlooking tea estates and dense jungle. This UNESCO-adjacent retreat, set on the 500-acre Enselwatte Tea Estate, earned a 9.3/10 rating from 2024 guests for its serene ambiance and langur-friendly

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Pitcher Plants of Sinharaja: Carnivorous Wonders

In the steamy depths of Sinharaja Rain Forest, where mist weaves through towering dipterocarps, a silent predator lurks on the forest floor—the pitcher plant (Nepenthes distillatoria), Sri Lanka’s only carnivorous plant. These insect-eating marvels, with their vase-like traps, lure ants and flies to a watery grave, thriving in nutrient-poor soils. In 2024, 20% of Sinharaja’s

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Trekking the Pekoe Trail: A Wild Adventure Through Tea Country

In Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands, where emerald tea estates ripple under misty peaks, the Pekoe Trail stretches 300 km, weaving a path through tea country’s heart. Launched in 2023, this 22-stage hiking odyssey, curated by Miguel Cunat with EU and USAID backing, blends rugged adventure with cultural immersion, earning accolades like the British Guild of

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