If you are a wild life lover then I suggest that you plan a tour in Sri Lanka. Why? Wild life researchers and eco-tourists have declared Sri Lanka as the top whale watching spot in the world. The blue whales and sperm whales are the two most spotted whale species around the south coast of Sri Lanka from January to April. Renowned marine biologist Charles Anderson opined that Sri Lanka could be a great whale destination spot. Anderson has been studying Indian Ocean whales for 24 years and so far he had a fantastic experience.
Lanka Business Online reports:
A high concentration of blue whales and sperm whales has been spotted in the seas off Dondra Head along the deep south coast of Sri Lanka during the months of January to April.
"We spent most of April going out to the sea, to see marine mammals and we have been very successful," says Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne, chief executive of Jetwing Eco.
"Our naturalist at the Light House hotel in Galle, Anoma Algiyawadu, went out on 24 occasions up to April 26, and on very one of those occasions, he saw blue whales.
"Anoma had sometimes seen three, some times five and even ten blue whales, off Dondra point.
"I went out myself and I too saw blue whales every single occasion, I also saw sperm whales on different occasions," he said.
The frequency as well as the proximity to the shore makes Sri Lanka one of the easiest places in the world to spot blue or sperm whales.
Blue whale is the largest animal on earth that grows upto 110 feet and weighs upto 180 metric tons. Sperm whales are the largest carnivore mammals that feed on squid and octopus. Naturalists said that nutrient flow from Sri Lanka’s rivers turned the sea into an ideal spot for whale habitat. Some of the whales are residents of the area and some whales migrate through the Sri Lankan ocean to and fro the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
This is great news for Sri Lankan tourism sector. Business entrepreneurs of Sri Lanka can promote eco-tourism around the world. Watching the biggest creature of the world can be truly a life time experience for any one.
As I was reading the news, instantly, Bangladeshi dolphins came to my mind. I felt very sad that we have failed to preserve such a beautiful creature of our country. Dolphins are found mainly in South-Western part of Bangladesh around the Sundarbans. Because of water pollution and over fishing, the number of dolphins is declining sharply. If these creatures are preserved then, like the whales in Sri Lanka, they can also become a great eco-tourism attraction for Bangladesh. Once again, through this post, I request to the people of my country to come forward and do something to save this beautiful creature.
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Southasiabiz
Lanka Business Online
The article you have written is really interesting. We all have heard of the name of the Blue Whale. But I am really amazing to read your article about Blue Whale. Sri Lanka is really the gift of nature.
Posted by: Animesh Chandra Bain | May 10, 2008 2:09 PM | Permalink to Comment