I just returned to my host's home after two days in the jungle. It was a very exciting time because we went on a safari jeep ride in the Wasgomuwa Nature Reserve. We saw much wildlife - monitor lizards, rabbits, wild boar, water buffalo, mongoose, water fowl, pea fowl, jungle fowl, deer, colorful birds of many types, and of course elephants.
Twice we were charged by the elephants. The first time was rather scary because one elephant in a group of twenty or more charged and then her friends came as backup. The elephants were trumpeting and then, if that weren't intimidating enough, one let out this low gutteral growl that sounded like one of the T-rexes in Jurassic Park. I didn't know elephants did that and I would have remained happy in that ignorance. The driver had shut off the engine when we got close so that we would not be intrusive (obviously that didn't work) and then he couldn't get it started. More elephants joined and had us surrounded in a semi-circle. The driver and the ranger (you have to have both to enter the reserve) worked really well to stand down the elephants. I think the whole event took only five minutes but it was a long, long, long 5 minutes. There were two really young elephants in the herd and we figure the elders were being protective. It's also hot right now and very dry so the elephants are quite tempermental according to the ranger. When I did have my wits about me it was interesting to witness the pack nature of the elephants and how even when in an aggressive mode they all surrounded and protected the young. I had to laugh at one point because even the young ones were trumpeting at us like they were mad too. It was pretty scary at the time but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Eventually the truck started and after a few more yells by the ranger the elephants backed away. A few big ones gave a very short chase probably just for show. Later we were charged by a lone bull elephant but after being surrounded that was nothing. That and the jeep started right up so we got away no problem.
We spent the night in lake front cabanas at a place called Safari Village. We ate delicious Sri Lankan food and enjoyed a quiet evening by the lake.
Team member Chris did a nice job combining photos and video of the elephant ordeal - view it on YouTube here ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScvWDaWsxEA
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