 Kottowa forest
The Kottowa arboretum is only 30
minutes away from Galle. Having quite a few good trails, the greenery at
the arboretum is a refreshing experience for the keen traveller who
needs something more than just a beach.
A multitude of dazzling flora and fauna awaits the trekker at Kottowa
and on any given day, one can witness birds, snakes, lizards, fish and
some mammals appearing. Generally, a walk starts at around eight in the
morning and one can wind up the trip by about 12pm. It’s a gentle path
and is a good introduction to the forest if you haven’t been to one
before.
 The Kottowa forest receives 2,160-3,500mm annual rainfall
annually.This is the highest during the south western monsoon from May
to August.
Relative humidity is about 70 percent and the mean temperature is
around 28°C. In 1931, the newly formed Forest Department established a
38 acre arboretum of rainforest trees at Kottowa to provide a study area
for Sri Lanka’s rich forest biodiversity. In 1937, it was declared a
forest park and the whole Kottowa-Kombala area was proposed as a 2,300ha
reserve.
However, due to international events, this area was commandeered as a
military command centre by the British, its dense vegetation and
proximity to the Galle Port making it an ideal location. Now reduced to
1,060ha, it is managed by the Galle Regional Office Forest Department
but needs more attention to ensure that endemic species thrive at their
best even in this mini sanctuary.
Although technically classified as a secondary forest it has many
attributes of a true rainforest and non-native species are being slowly
removed. Covering gently undulating land and containing a few small
streams, its location in an area of high rainfall and high humidity can
provide much of the mist and mystery to be found in other rainforest
areas.
The two main trails follow a small footpath through the forest and by
the Gangawwa Ela.
Although we can never be sure what the forest will reveal on any
particular day, many plants and animals can be found in the forests.
The Na tree (Mesua nagassarium) is the national tree of Sri Lanka as
the whole plant is medicinal. The pollen and seeds are made into an
ointment and put on the skin to help heal broken bones. Flowers are used
in temple offerings.
The insectivorous pitcher plant (Nepenthes distillatoria) attracts
small insects such as ants, traps and dissolves them in its pitcher to
extract its nutrients - mainly nitrogen. It has three ways of attracting
insects where the liquid in the pitcher releases an attractive scent,
the plant colour attracts its victim and insects come to drink the
liquid, mistaking it for plain water and get trapped. The plant also has
medicinal properties for the liquid can be drunk and used as a remedy
for coughs.
On the nature trail, you can see birds such as the endemic Sri Lanka
Rufous Babbler and the White-headed Starling. See two endemic fish such
as the Black Ruby Barb and the Cherry Barb. Visual sightings of mammals
are difficult to spot so they are usually seen through droppings,
tracks, calls and other signs.
They include the mongoose, the Golden Palm Cat, the Giant Squirrel,
the Mouse Deer, Sambar Deer, the Purple-Faced Leaf Monkey, the Northern
Toque Macaque, the Wild Boar, the Porcupine and even a Leopard! Watch
out for snakes like the Barnes Cat Snake, the Green Pit Viper, the Hump
Nosed Pit Viper. the Sri Lanka Wolf-snake and the Templeton’s Kukri
Snake.
Lizards, geckos and skinks like the Hump-nosed Lizard, the Sri Lanka
Kangaroo Lizard, the Rough-Nosed Horned Lizard, the Great Forest Gecko
and the Three-toed Skink make their home here. Discover amphibians such
as the Corrugated Water Frog, the Sri Lanka Rock Frog and the Sri Lanka
Reed Frog. |
