Nature Trails epic safari in search of Sri Lanka’s elusive sloth bears

Friday, 3 August 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Nature Trails, the award-winning eco-tourism division of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is now offering guided sloth bear tours, giving you the rare opportunity to go in search of this elusive mammal in Yala National Park. As palu season kicks off, there’s no better time to book a holiday at Cinnamon Wild Yala and venture into the park’s thickets in search of the sloth bears that are believed to inhabit the protected zones within the park.

The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), is the only member of family Ursidae to be found in Sri Lanka’s dry zones and forest habitats. Its characteristic shaggy, dusty and relatively untidy black coat makes it unmistakable to recognise. Elusive and shy in nature, sloth bears are generally not easy to spot, but during palu season, when ample quantities of this sweet fruit can be found throughout the park, they venture out more boldly and can be seen with greater ease. The sloth bears consume large amounts of the palu fruit and then help to disperse the seeds through defecation throughout the park. It is a win-win relationship for both the palu plants and the bears, and each season marks the return of the sloth bears out into the open, as they feast on these soft-centered sweet treats.

The Nature Trails team has a long-standing history of providing world-class eco-friendly excursions and delivering magical wildlife moments. The CNT naturalists based at Cinnamon Wild Yala have extensive guiding and tracking experience and have enabled countless travellers to embark on unforgettable safaris and expeditions in the area. Throughout the year, the CNT team keeps track of sloth bear movements and behavioural trends and uses soundless jeeps on all excursions to ensure that the wildlife within the park is not disturbed.

Commenting on this excursion, Chitral Jayatilake Vice President – John Keells Group, Head of Nature Trails – Cinnamon Hotels said: “Often known as the ghost in the forest, sloth bears are perhaps the most elusive creatures in our wilderness. They appear from nowhere – and disappear into the thickets silently, making it a truly great challenge to track them. However, the onset of the annual palu fruiting season often brings them out into the open feeding on what is an irresistible delicacy to them – they are known to consume palu, until they almost pass out atop the trees. As that season starts once again, we invite those who are keen to spot Sri Lanka’s sloth bears in their natural habitat, to join us at Yala during this window of time, when we have the best possible chance of tracking this interesting and captivating species.”

The Cinnamon Nature Trails team is headed by renowned wildlife expert and photographer Chitral Jayatilake and Vimukthi Weeratunga – senior biologist and photographer. The team comprises 15 dedicated in-house naturalists who have extensive knowledge and a wide range of skills and expertise. This cumulative experience and their passion for nature, ensure that every safari, tour and excursion is truly memorable.