The tortoise and the heron

“When he saw how gaily the birds flew about and how the Hare and the Chipmunk and all the other animals ran nimbly by, always eager to see everything there was to be seen, the Tortoise was very sad and discontented. 

He wanted to see the world too, and there he was with a house on his back and little short legs that could hardly drag him along.We can help you to see the world,” said the herons. “Take hold of this stick with your teeth and we will carry you far up in the air where you can see the whole countryside. But keep quiet or you will be sorry.”

The Tortoise was very glad indeed. He seized the stick firmly with his teeth, the two Herons took hold of it one at each end, and away they sailed up toward the clouds.Just then a Crow flew by. He was very much astonished at the strange sight and cried:“This must surely be the King of Tortoises!” “Why certainly——” began the Tortoise. But as he opened his mouth to say these foolish words he lost his hold on the stick, and down he fell to the ground."

Our guide retold this Aesop fable to us when we happened upon his tortoise and a heron sunning on the same rock. Which brings to mind two things about animals I have been told this week that I never expected to hear. We were doing an auto rickshaw ride around Sigirya rock and our driver stopped in a quiet spot for us to take photos. I popped out of the rickshaw and was told to bring my bag: really ... there was absolutely no one around and we were way in the bush. The driver sensed my confusion and said 'monkeys madam'! It seems the monkeys like to pilfer from unattended bags. Later that same day our driver expressed concern about the planned early evening cycle tour, because of the risks from wild elephants! Sri Lanka still has some untamed bush and I am glad we are here to see it before it diminishes further.

Wild Elephants

Peacocks and a Peahen

I have seen more animals on this trip than l have seen in the last couple of years, and that is even before venturing into a national park. Little squirrels scurry around everywhere and one took up residence in our hotel bathroom for a couple of nights, I grew quite fond if him and we named him Sami.

A Monitor Lizard

We then came across monkeys. I actually detest monkeys - perhaps it is a hangover from India where they were mangy, horrid creatures who harassed people at the temples. But here they live a wild existence, eat natural fodder and look healthy, well feed and have sleek, clean fur. Apart from them hanging around the hotel pool they are generally very cute and pleasant enough. Monitor lizards wander around country roads, we have seen chameleons in multiple colours, birds galore, including peacocks in a natural habitat. And, best of all, a truly wild elephant in the bush as we travelled by canoe on lake. After all that I was wondering why we were going to bother visiting a national park.

Monkeys.

And then we visited the national park for the elephant safari and it became all too clear why this is an essential activity on any Sri Lankan tour. I won't say too much - I'll let the pictures tell the story.

More Wild Elephants

Just one postscript: amongst all this glorious nature we were taken by a young couple in anoher safari jeep who were almost oblivious to the elephants as the boyfriend took multiple shots of his posing girlfriend, the elephants were only an accessory in the backdrop.