Divided into 5 blocks- light forests, scrubs, grasslands, tanks and lagoons, Yala National Park in Sri Lanka is home to 44 varieties of mammal and 215 bird species. Among its most famous residents are the world’s biggest concentration of leopards, majestic elephants, sloth bears, peacocks, and crocodiles. The tsunami of 2004 was a game changer for this Park.
The waves that struck Yala were at least 20 feet high. It devastated the scrub forests and grasslands. The tsunami altered the Yala coastline forever; around 60 per cent of the area along the coastline has changed and the damage was worse closer to the sea.
It is surprising to note that animals were not harmed by the waves. This incident supports the theory of the sixth sense of animals that took them out of the path of the on-coming waves. Findings based on two elephants with electronic collars suggest that their reactions based on quick comprehension of clues may have prompted all the animals to escape the waves. Sadly, this faculty does not work for humans!
Picture Credit : Google