In 247 BC, the arrival of Buddhism saved a deer and created a wildlife sanctuary.

The World’s first.

At Mihintale, Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has a population of 21.5 million people (not much less than Australia).

A land area of 65,000 km² (less than Ireland).

A wild population of 7,500 Elephants (from the latest Scientific Census).

The highest concentration, of the Largest Leopards, in the World.

This small and independent island is the only home for:

21 unique mammal species.

33 unique bird species.

122 unique reptile species.

94 unique frog species.

48 unique freshwater fish & 9 marine fish species.

4 unique butterfly species.

15 unique plant species.

And uncounted numbers of insects, arthropods & other small creatures.

And these are just the ones discovered, so far. With more & more found each, and every, year.

Making Sri Lanka a bio-diversity hotspot of the bio-diversity hotspots.

80% of those wild elephants don’t even live in National Parks. They roam amongst the forests, fields, mountains, beaches and villages.

Sri Lanka is a safe environment for the rare and vulnerable Marsh Crocodile, which can potentially be found in any freshwater lake, river or even occasional swimming pool. The more famous and dangerous Saltwater Crocodiles live in brackish rivers, lagoons and salt pans all around the Coast.

With 70% of the people living and working in rural areas, how does a small island country, with so many people, manage to support this thriving environment?

It does because Sri Lanka is an Ancient Buddhist Country and has been for the longest part of recorded history. With this deep-rooted & vibrant Buddhist belief culture, the people have always resisted unhealthy and environmentally destructive pressures from outside forces. And continue to do so, as the oldest uninterrupted democracy in Asia.

And, because the Buddhist people, who respect their Buddhist Culture, respect life, the wild animals naturally feel safer surrounded by Buddhism.

And wild animals that feel safe, are easier to see.

Here, more than most densely populated countries.

The long history of respect for life and wildlife protection in Sri Lanka began in what is now the North Central Province, more than two millennia before the newer, western nations copied the same idea.