Nature's paradise

Lassana Sri Lanka's Knuckle's Range:

by Rosanne Koelmeyer Anderson

The Knuckles Range embedded in the rocky cliffs, named after the five peaks, Kirigalpottha 1642m (5403 ft), Gombaniya 1893m (6248) Knuckles 1852m (6122) Koboneelagala 1544m (5198) and Dotulugala 1564m (5161) look like the knuckles of a clenched fist.

A name given by the British in the 19th century, known by the villagers of yore as the 'Dumbara' Range, meaning 'misty mountains', Knuckles may carry a story of history dating back to the era of King Ravana.

Knuckles is a landscape found nowhere else in Sri Lanka, a tropical parallel referred to as the 'Mini Alps' by scientist for its formation of a series of peaks and penny plains almost 6250 ft above sea level adding to the magnificent beauty and high bio diversity of Lassana Sri Lanka.

Located in the intermediate climatic zone of Central Sri Lanka, Knuckles range experiences a wide spectrum of rainfall and temperature differences as well the exposure to strong wind which has given Knuckles an array of natural vegetation and a rich composition of animals and plants which has attracted many a nature lover and researcher to its precincts.

Knuckles, according to environmentalists represents all features of the main climatic zones, not found in any other mountain range in the country. Scientists and environmentalists also regard this 1,829 square kilometers of lush green virgin as one of the world's most unique ecosystems.

Knuckles is also the main water source of the Mahaweli, the main water source of the island's hydropower and irrigated agriculture in the dry zone, with many tributaries including Hulu Ganga, Heen Ganga and Kalu Ganga springing from the Range.

Moreover, the Knuckles Forest Range is a cradle for plant and animal life and is an invaluable asset where biodiversity and watershed values are concerned.

"With gigantic trees, vast shrub areas and a colourful array of bird and animal life, the Knuckles Range provides a microcosm of the entire variety of climatic conditions in the country, from extreme wet to nearly arid," notes a study in 1994, by Worldview-NORAD titled 'Gift of Nature to Sri Lanka'.

Of many fauna and flora found in region, the Range constitutes about 50 per cent of tree, 25 per cent of flowering plants, 20 per cent of ferns and 50 per cent of reptiles and amphibians endemic to the island.

It is interesting to note that "A total of 1033 flowering plants belonging to 141 families have been recorded from the above vegetation types in Knuckles. Of the total number of flowering plant species documented in Knuckles, 160 (15 per cent) are endemic to Sri Lanka, while about 3 per cent are nationally threatened," according to World Conservation Union (IUCN) studies on Knuckes.

Mahendra Siriwardhane an environmentalist and bird expert and former coordinator of the Enviornment Education Unit of the Open University Nawala in an interview and presentation 'A random visit to nature' said the misty mountains also provide a habitat for a variety of species not found elsewhere in the world and many endangered species.

"Similarly, Knuckles holds a great variety of fauna. Most important is that it is home to many endangered and endemic species.

About 230 vertebrate species have been recorded from this area of which 20 per cent are endemic to Sri Lanka, including 14 bird and nine fish species. Five of these endemic species, three freshwater fish (Phillip's gara - Garra phillipsi, Martenstyne's barb - Puntius martenstyni, Blotchedfilamented barb - Puntius srilankensis) one amphibian (Marbled cliff frog - Nannophrys marmorata) and one lizard (Tennent's horned lizard - Ceretophora tennenti) are restricted to the Knuckles Forest Range while 25 per cent of the vertebrates found in the Knuckles range are nationally threatened.

In addition a large number of species of reptiles, spiders, butterflies (over 70 species) and other insects have been recorded too in the Knuckles Range".

"The poisonous snakes like the slow moving nightly Green Viper, the Pit Viper with its third eye, the Cobra and the Russel's Viper are commonly seen in the Knuckles Range.

Amazingly, Mahendra explained that in 1998 Sri Lanka got a Genius record for the maximum number of deaths in the Anuradhapura district as a result of being stung by the Russell's Viper, the most dangerous snake species.

The Hump-nosed viper he explained is a fast attacker and can detect heat well belongs to an undescribed species probably new and found everywhere except in Nuwara Eliya. The Army of Ants of Sri Lanka found in the Knuckles is dangerous to. It can spread in a second and attack people", he explained.

"The commonest Lizard, the Brown Garden Lizard and the Green Garden Lizard which has a very good colouration which indicates that its healthy are interesting to observer while the Rose-ringed Parakeet, the most common next to the crow but very aggressive and the commonest frogs in the rainforest, ranatemperatis could also be seen at Knuckles.

The communal nesting place of the Golden Gecko and the most clever bat species in Sri Lanka, the Great Forest Gecko, the largest in Sri Lanka about 9' long which lives in the rock caves in wet forests and the Golden Horse Shoe Bat could also be spotted here.

Interestingly, the largest of the species, the Flying Fox, a fruit eater which lives on trees exposed to the sunlight could be observed. Another interesting phenomenon similar among Pelicans and Spoonbills is flocking.

The Grey Houndbill which has a very special way of nestling and the Sri Lankan jungle fowl are endemics", he further explained.

An area which provides all types of climatic features, the Knuckles Range has naturally become the habitat of many bird varieties, including migrant birds. Over 40 varieties of birds and butterflies are also found there. Of the identified 21 endemic bird varieties, 14 are found only in that area. Of the 28 endangered species, nine are found here with three species being only found in the Knuckles.

Vicious varieties of spiders and other insects are also found here, though a proper survey on this subject has never been conducted. Some of the most rare herbal plants like Iruraja, Maharaja, kohomba, Maha hedaya and Pihimbiya and many others also grow here. Several valuable trees like Mahogany, Teak and Milla could also be found here.

According to forest range officers, rain is a permanent feature and owing to its setting, the area also experiences the highest rainfall in the central hills. Although it is cold up in the Knuckles you would even find Binara, a pleasing sight of a purple flower growing amidst natures wondrous landscape, a land with beauty beyond compare.

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