Jetwing Eco Newsletter – August 2019

Dear Friends,

It has been a rewarding couple of months in the Jetwing Eco Calendar with many rewarding sightings, from blue whales to elephant gatherings and the beautiful birding season. To see a blue whale out in the deep blue sea is something most of us can only dream about. Sri Lanka is arguably one of the most naturally diverse and beautiful spots on Earth. The East Coast whale watching is in season which begins late May until September. During this period, blue whales remain close, around 6-8 nautical miles East of Trincomalee, about 30 minutes in travel time.

Motorized boats and trawlers allow travelers to journey far out to the deep and reach the natural habitats of these whales. The best up close and personal experience will come with a little bit of patience and luck. But most importantly, our respect for the habitat and space of these majestic animals is essential to ensure that they continue to delight, awe and teach us for many generations to come.

The world’s greatest wildlife phenomenon, rating 6th on Lonely Planet’s Greatest Wildlife Spectacles is the Elephant Gathering. Around August & September every year, the receding banks of the Minneriya Lake create one of the most unique scenes you will ever witness. A sight to behold and a must see if you happen to visit Sri Lanka during this period! Imagine the end of a long hot day, as the sun sinks and the light begins to change, several herds of elephants begin to slowly emerge from the surrounding forest. For any observer this is an incredible moment as this is not just a mere elephant migration. The animals here socialize, bathe and even find mates. It is a unique treasure of nature and can only be witnessed in this park.

Our team takes pride in creating personalized programs for our clients from around the world, ones which would eventually lead us to showcase the beauty of our small island and its diversity. We have begun to welcome the autumn and winter bookings and look forward to a successful 2019, yet again, to be the number 1 travel destination in the world.

We create tailor-made itineraries for Group and FIT clients. You could also visit our website https://www.jetwingeco.com/ to get an overall idea on what we do promote.

The next season in the 2019 wildlife calendar would be the enthralling birding experiences that we offer that captures the endemic birds of Sri Lanka along with many other vibrant species. This is also one of the featured tours among birding enthusiasts. For an island of its compact size of 66,000 Sq. Km, Sri Lanka is blessed with a wide array of bird species. Nearly 470 different species of birds have been recorded including migrants. 34 species are endemic, found nowhere else in the world and can be observed year round only in this island of bliss, Sri Lanka!

We take this opportunity to thank you all for your immense support given to us in paving the way for us to be Sri Lanka’s premier Wildlife & Wellness Operator, we promise to remain committed towards sustainable & inclusive tourism, collaborating with communities & stakeholders in delivering diverse, authentic and amazing experiences.

Ayubowan,
Jetwing Eco Holidays Team.

Black Necked Stork (Jabiru)

Commonly referred to as Jabirus, the Black Necked Stork is a tall bird who when fully stretches its wings measures up to 230cm, while weighing around 4.1kg. Believed to be the largest of all birds in Sri Lanka, the species is a rare breeding resident, with merely four to eight breeding pairs seen in Yala National Park. As of late, the IUCN Red List has classified the species as Near Threatened.

The breeding season falls between March and May, where upon their encounter, a stork dance is initiated lasting several minutes. The duo may bond for several years or linger together for life. Adults possess a blue-black head and neck, black beak and white midsection, with wings having a black stripe down the middle. To differentiate between the sexes, one may look at its eyes in which the iris of the female is yellow and male is brown.

Though the Jabiru is actually a bird which makes its home in the Americas, their habitats range across Asia and Australia. They inhabit in areas with a large permanent body of water, while also seen in the floodplains of rivers and other wetland areas. The Black Necked Stork is a carnivore feeding on fish, amphibians, crustaceans, small water birds and insects. When scavenging for food they may meander into open woodlands, grasslands or flooded agricultural areas. Their average lifespan is 30 years.

Video Credits: Jetwing Eco Holidays Naturalist – Mahinda Jayasinghe

STRAIGHT FROM THE WILD

Bird surveys to keep track of bird
population

The Global Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) has
urged the general public, especially the bird
enthusiasts and bird watchers to join a bird survey
to keep track of bird populations.

Secured Future for Leopards

Stepping up to be a signatory of the CITES convention, have armed Sri Lanka with a legal framework that can be utilized to prosecute those who mingle with the Illegal trade of Leopard Skin.

In Sri Lanka, a tiny new Orchid bears an Elephant’s name

An Orchid species native only to Sri Lanka, has been named after a wild Elephant, who was killed for its tusks in 2017.

Future Prosperity of Sri Lankan Whale Watching Activities

An awareness session was conducted by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, in collaboration with a few others, for boat operators engaging in whale watching activities with the sole purpose of enhancing the industry in a controlled manner.

Hello there,

My husband and I would just like to send a short note of “thanks” to your company and to Banu for the outstanding service that we received on our holiday. Your staff made the planning easy and you were so flexible when our schedules change and we really appreciate it. Banu was just amazing, his knowledge of your country made the tours come alive and we were really impressed and privilege to be part of it.

We can’t thank you enough and hope to return very soon.

Thanks again Nancy and Dave