subject: Dehiwela Zoo A Favourite Destination For A Family Outing [print this page] The Dehiwela Zoo in Colombo is one of the favourite destinations for a days outing in Sri Lanka. Located approximately 9 kilometres away from Colombo city centre, the zoo is the largest on the island and boasts a standard of care for the resident animals that is one par with the best among zoos in Asia.
Originally begun during colonial times by Mr. John Hardenberg, the zoo has been under the management of the local government for over 70 years. The zoo boasts a great diversity of animals brought in from the further reaches of the world and housed in specifically landscaped habitats designed to closely mimic the animals native habitats while giving them plenty of room for movement and comfort. The zoological gardens also showcases a sizable amount of indigenous flora and fauna, most especially medicinal plants which are grown beside the tree-lined paths as well as in small plots of forest with rare flora.
The larger mammals such as bears, gorillas, rhinos, tigers and lions, who are housed in massive enclosures, are the chief attractions of the zoo. Wolves, hyenas, leopards and cheetahs are also some of the mammals to be found within the zoo. Also popular among the masses are the darkened exhibition houses such as the Reptile House, the aquarium and the Nocturnal House which is inhabited by the creatures of the night. The butterfly park in particular is extremely popular with families and young children.
However, the most famous highlight of the Dehiwela Zoo is indubitably the Elephant Circus that happens in the afternoons. These great, yet tame and gentle beasts are brought in front of a captive audience to perform dances and antics such as standing up on their hind legs. One of them is even trained to play a mouth organ while the rest troop on behind it.
The performances of the sea lions, the antics of the zoo-raised chimpanzee Sanju and the 20 green anacondas that were bred within the grounds are also exotic highlights that one must not fail to observe and experience while touring the zoo. The zoo also offers educational tours as well as an animal breeding programme dedicated to conserving the endangered species both foreign and indigenous.
The Dehiwela Zoo is one of the staple features that will be recommended to you as sight-seeing places of note when you visit Sri Lanka. When looking for quality Sri Lanka hotels that will enable you to best access the many cultural, natural and historical treasures of the island, the accommodation provided by the John Keells Hotel Group is always a good choice. These well-reputed hotels are found within proximity to the major tourist destinations of the country, offering excellent service and a range of facilities for every class of traveller.
