Welcome to my immersive journey into the heart of the wilderness. I am Ismail Salahudeen, a seasoned wildlife photographer, weaving tales through my lens that unveil the raw spirit of my motherland SRI LANKA.
The Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) stands as an emblem of Sri Lanka's rich biodiversity, representing the apex predator in the island's diverse ecosystems. With its golden-yellow coat adorned with distinctive rosettes, this solitary and adaptable big cat plays a vital role in maintaining ecological balance. Found in habitats ranging from dense rainforests to arid zones, including prominent national parks like Yala and Wilpattu, the Sri Lankan Leopard faces threats such as habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching.
Conservation efforts for the Sri Lankan Leopard are underway to safeguard its existence and the integrity of its habitats. Collaborative initiatives involving governmental bodies, non-governmental organizations, and local communities aim at habitat protection, research, and anti-poaching measures. By supporting these endeavors, we contribute not only to the survival of this iconic species but also to the preservation of Sri Lanka's unique and diverse wildlife, ensuring a harmonious coexistence between nature and communities.
Sri Lanka is home to an estimated 7,500 elephants, which is about 10% of elephants that live in Asia. They live on about 2% of the country’s land area, and a little more than 7% of male elephants bear tusks. Tuskers are exposed to more harm than other elephants, even though poaching for ivory is not common in Sri Lanka. As time has passed, seeing tuskers in the wild parts of Sri Lanka has become a rarity.
The Sri Lankan subspecies is the largest and also the darkest of the Asian elephants, with patches of depigmentation—areas with no skin color—on its ears, face, trunk, and belly. Once found throughout the tear-shaped island at the bottom of India’s southern tip, these elephants are now being pushed into smaller areas as development activities clear forests and disrupt their ancient migratory routes.
Sri Lanka is a tropical island situated close to the southern tip of India. The bird life of Sri Lanka is very rich for its size and 528 species have been recorded. In addition to the many resident birds, a considerable number of migratory species winter in the country to escape their northern breeding grounds.
Bird distribution in Sri Lanka is largely determined by its climatic zones. Currently, there are 33 identified species of endemic birds in Sri Lanka, out of which most are found in the wet zone. The months of November through April are considered the best months of the year to spot most of these endemics. The Kithulgala and Sinharaja forest reserves in the lowlands are amongst the top spots to view a majority of these endemics. Horton Plains National Park in the hills is the best place to catch the endemics that enjoy their life at altitude.
Sri Lanka is somewhat of an outlier when it comes to biodiversity. Experts have been studying the biodiversity of this small island since the early 20th century and all with good reason. The number of animal species on the island is said to be five times as much as it is supposed to be on an island of its size, and the number of endemic species in the country is amazing. From endemic birds to endemic primates, Sri Lanka has them all. The wonder of Sri Lanka – being such a small island – is that you don’t have to travel far to see any of them. Sri Lanka is probably the best for big-game safaris outside Africa. Its big five are the Elephant, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Blue, and Sperm Whale. Few countries can rival its combination of big game safari animals, species densities, and tourism infrastructure. It is undoubtedly the ultimate Island safari.
All of my wildlife and nature photographs found on this website are available for sale as limited edition fine art archival photographic prints in a glossy/matte format, as well as canvas prints in sizes from 8" x 12" to 40" x 60"
(Please contact me for pricing and shipping)
Welcome to my immersive journey into the heart of the wilderness. I am Ismail Salahudeen, a seasoned wildlife photographer, weaving tales through my lens that unveil the raw spirit of my motherland SRI LANKA.
In my academic voyage, rooted in Management, I lead the Human Resources function at MAS Legato, a subsidiary of MAS Holdings Private Limited.
