The rich and unique animal and plant life in the Sinharaja Rainforest Reserve is the reason why it was marked as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988. Currently, the reserve spans 8864 hectares and the country plans to quadruple the size of the area to respect the ecological significance of the region. The hilly virgin rainforest is a treasure trove of endemic species including mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians and of course, an abundance of trees and insects.

Particularly known for bird watching, an interesting phenomenon here is that birds move in mixed feeding flocks, led by the great Racket-tailed Drongo and the noisy Orange-billed Babbler. 20 of the 26 endemic bird species in Sri Lanka are seen at the Sinharaja Rainforest. In addition to bids, more than 60% of the plants are endemic, many of which are rare. The reserve is also home to more than 50% of the country’s endemic mammal, butterfly, reptile, amphibian and insect species.

Due to the dense vegetation, animal spotting is a challenge. This kind of atmosphere is a real treat to wildlife enthusiasts though who are eagerly waiting to travel deep into the forests in search of rare wildlife. The amazing flora and fauna that beautifies this forest reserve are those that live in temperatures ranging from 19-34 degrees Celsius. The average height of trees varies between 35m-45m within the rainforest.