Whale watching in Sri Lanka
Whale watching in Sri Lanka became a lot famous around the world in recent decades. Dolphin and whale watching is categorically included in wildlife tourism and is one of the most exciting activities to do in Sri Lanka. Then what are the best whale watching destinations in Sri Lanka? There are three main locations in Sri Lanka that offer whale watching cruises. These are
- Mirissa in the south-west
- Trincomalee in the north-east
- Kalpitiya on the west coast
In these areas, two main species of whale can be found. They are the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) and sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). There are 80 species of whales recorded in all oceans, and 26 of them have been identified up to date in and around the seas of Sri Lanka. Some of them seasonally migrate while others are permanent residents around the Sri Lanka Sea.
Type of Whales found around Sri Lanka
The list of whales that can be found around the sea of Sri Lanka are Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus), Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus), Killer Whale (Orcinus Orca), Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus), Pygmy Sperm Whale (Kogiabreviceps), Dwarf Sperm Whale (Kogiasimus), Bryde’s Whale (Balaenoptera brydei), Melon-Headed Whale (Peponocephalaelectra), Cuvier’s Beaked Whale (Ziphiuscavirostris), Ginkgo-toothed Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon ginkgodens), Southern Bottlenose Whale (Hyperoodon planifrons), False Killer Whale (Pseudorca crassidens), Pygmy Killer Whale (Feresaattenuata) and Short-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephalamacrorhynchus).
The blue whale is classified as an endangered marine animal and it is estimated that 5000 to 10,000 blue whales remain worldwide. Blue whale is the largest animal in the entire world. There are only a few places in the world where you can see this incredible record-breaking mammal. Generally, these are intelligent animals with intricate social behaviors.
Travelers can engage in Whale watching all year round in different locations of Sri Lanka; however, selecting an appropriate season and time will offer travelers a higher chance of watching whales.
Best time to explore
November to March/April is considered the ideal time to catch sight of these amazing creatures in Kalpitiya while Mirissa whale watching season starts in November and goes on until the end of April. At Trincomalee, the best time is from May to September as whales continue their migrations around the island from the south coast.
There is another thing not to forget. Apart from the whales, travelers are able to witness Dolphins throughout this journey. Bottlenose Dolphin, Spotted Dolphin, Striped Dolphin, Spinner Dolphin, Fraser’s Dolphin, Risso’s Dolphin are main varieties that can be found around the Sri Lanka Sea.
What to be concerned of while on a whale watching cruise.
Never ever forget that you are in their territory. Always choose a responsible travel agency which organizes professional whale watching trips, considering the safety of this beautiful creature of the sea. When a whale is spotted the boats must slow down always. When approaching they must never get close to a whale from it’s front or rare.
