Hurulu Eco Park

Sri Lanka protects its nature - nurtures and cares for it.... and markets it. We visit it, willingly paying high entrance fees – this helps preserve the nature reserves. That's good.

Hurulu Eco Park, elephant safari. It’s wonderful to watch how the large pachyderms fling mud puddle water and sandy soil onto their backs with their trunks, how skillfully they pluck tasty leaves from branches that have been forcefully twisted from the tree. How lovingly they seek and find proximity to each other, how at times one ventures out alone, only to regroup in the shade. Wild dogs also inhabit the park – the elephants do not like them. The lead cow ensures their expulsion, threatening a dog quickly and powerfully. The dog hides between the jeeps, where she cannot reach it. However, she stands right in front of us – almost eye to eye. I held my breath for a moment, I don’t want to be a dog!

It’s also an experience to drive along bumpy paths, to sway through large puddles, needing to hold on with both hands, surrounded only by the reddish-brown earth and wild vegetation. The view from the rock shows the extent of the reserve.

However, it feels a bit uneasy when 1 jeep of tourists approaches 1 elephant. It’s not just us feeling uncomfortable when the jeeps circle around a small group of animals. The elephants don’t seem entirely at ease either. Without the reserve, where they can otherwise live freely as exhibit subjects, there would be fewer of them. We also encountered elephants on the road during our drives, leisurely walking at the edge or standing in the middle. Signs indicate wild crossings. This is impressive. All vehicles pass by or around with caution.