3 August 2023 04:25 pm
Titled as the sixth largest animal congregation in the world by Lonely Planet and also as one of the greatest wildlife spectacles in the world by BBC & CNN, the Elephant Gathering is an extraordinary wildlife phenomenon, occurring every dry season, at the Minneriya and Kaudulla National Parks in Sri Lanka.
The Story of the Gathering
The Minneriya reservoir built under the supervision of King Mahasena who reigned Anuradhapura kingdom in ancient Sri Lanka - once built to help serve villagers to collect water during the dry season has now been reclaimed by nature and turned into a natural habitat, serving this natural phenomenon to occur every dry season (from July to October). Minneriya Reservoir is a key component of the Minneriya National Park, located within the park boundary. During the dry season in the north central province, the Minneriya Reservoir begins to recede while nourishing fresh growth of grass around the tank while water still remains in the reservoir, hence 300 to 400 elephants dominate and gather around the reservoir area for food and water - giving life to this wonderful spectacle of wildlife. During this season not only can one witness the spectacular sight of a large concentration of Asian elephant but also observe social behavior of elephants with greetings, feeding, courting and many other social activities while the matriarchs tenderly guard their young.
Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts’ Commitment
Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts’ Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) approach is guided by three pillars namely; the well-being of the planet, empowering and the well-being of our people and communities and finally on governance. In its efforts of biodiversity conservation, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts together with its specialised eco-tourism arm, Nature Trails has initiated and engaged several projects in mitigating the ongoing human-elephant conflict in the Habarana region, which also has a direct co-relation to the sustenance of the Elephant Gathering continuing to be a natural phenomenon for the world to see. Through the support of expert organisations such as the Centre for Conservation and Research (CCR), independent elephant ethologists and biodiversity scientists and researchers, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is driving efforts to raise awareness and promote peaceful co-existence. With the need of creating interest and awareness on the need to conserve and preserve the Elephant Gathering in Habarana, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts will facilitate a series of guest talks from 18th to 20th August at Cinnnamon Lodge Habarana with Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando, Chairman, Trustee and Scientist for the Center for Conservation and Research (CCR), Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya an Elephant Ethologist & the Lead for the National Action Plan for Human Elephant Conflict Mitigation Project and Rohan Pethiyagoda, a Sri Lankan biodiversity scientist.
Experience the largest elephant gathering in Asia, featuring 2 safaris, insightful discussions by renowned conservationists, nature walks, and more.
Make your reservations via https://bit.ly/3Of5zKh | Promo Code: ELGA or Call +94 - 11- 2161161 Ext 2
Book before 15ᵗʰ August 2023
Stay from the 18ᵗʰ to 20ᵗʰ August 2023.