Runakanda Rain Forest /රූණකන්ද වැසි වනාන්තරය

Runakanda Rain Forest /රූණකන්ද වැසි වනාන්තරය
Runakanda rain forest is one of the low land rain forests in SL, situated closer to Sinharaja Rain Forest in it’s western direction. Actually it is a part of Sinharaja Rain Forest. It is about 5500 hectares in extent and similar to bio diversity of Sinharaja Rain Forest. It is being home to birds, insects, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and more.
Few decades ago there were villages situated within the forest reserve and these villagers are migrated from Southern province. Therefore the mountain situated at forest reserve called Ruhuna+Kanda-Runakanda. (රුහුණු+කන්ද)

Runakanda Conservation Center (6.452331, 80.308160)
Runakanda Conservation Center is situated closer to the forest reserve but not within it. It is managed by a non-governmental organization called friends of bio diversity (FOBD). Main objectives of this conservation center is
1. Conversation of Runakanda Rain Forest
2. Conduct workshops and programmes
3. Providing accommodation for those who visit Runakanda Rain Forest
4. Conducting awareness programmes about serpent species of SL.

I have contacted Udaya Chanaka (of friends of biodiversity-FOBD) before visit the place and he introduced Gayan as the facilitator for our one day visit to Runakanda. Harinda, Kasun Shanaka and Vinoda joined with me for this journey and it took about two hours to reach the forest center from Colombo. We had early breakfast on our way to the conservation center. It was possible to reach the place by my car and Gayan was waiting for our arrival. Gayan is a local guide attached to Sinharaja Rain Forest.

We were welcomed with cups of “Kurakkan Kanda” /කුරක්කන් කැද.  This is the place of programmes and workshops. And they provide accommodation with tasty vegetarian food for visitors. They have displayed different photos and posters at this conservation center

Runakanda Conservation Center

Morning view of Runakanda from conservation center

Close up of Runakanda

Runakanda Forest Conservation Center managed by FOBD

Kasun and Harinda are enjoying Kurakkan Kanda

Displays photos and posters at conservation center.

.	Accommodation

The entrance of the forest is situated about 3km away from the conservation center and it also can be approached by vehicle. Runakanda Forest is separated from the village by Maguru Oya (මගුරු ඔය)

The day begins

It is a beautiful morning

Gayan followed the foot path from village to Maguru Oya

Crossing Maguru Oya

Soon after we crossed the river, leech protection Alum was applied as rain forests are main hub of blood suckers. There were paved foot path inside the forest as some houses and tea patches are still situated within the forest reserve. These villagers don’t stay there but they daily visit for tea plucking and toddy tapping. As it is a typical low land rain forest five layers of the forest can be seen and hardly sun rays come into the ground of the forest making it dark.
Sinharaja Rain Forest is the home for Ceylon Suprfowl / Sri Lankan Haban Kukula / Galloperdix bicalcarata (හබන් කුකුළා) who is an endemic bird of Sri Lanka. We have heard the sound of it, but were unable to watch it. Gayan has showed two species of lizard found at Runakanda forest: Sri Lankan Kangaroo Lizard (පිනුම් කටුස්සා) and Hump nosed lizard. We have crossed some streams within forest and these streams find the way to Maguru Oya. One special place we arrived was “Thummodara” (තුම්මෝදර) where three streams join each other. We were lucky enough to watch a green pit viper (පලා පොළගා) it coiled around a branch of a leave adjacent to a stream. Green pit viper is abundant at Runakanda rain forest.

Let’s enjoy the photo gallery of Runakanda Forest reserve

Rising up…..

Hora tree / Dipterocarpus zeylanicus /හොර

Get into the forest reserve. Forest reserve is almost dark due to covering layer of the forest.

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.	One of the streams we have crossed

.	Carrying plucked tea leaves from the forest to village

We are continuing the journey

Sri Lankan Kangaroo Lizard / Pinum Katussa / Otocryptis weigmanni. This endemic ground dwelling lizard confined to wet zone of the country. This lizard when disturbed run bipedally. This is the base for unusual name ‘kangaroo lizard’.

Same…

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.	Pus Wel / Elephant creepers / Entada pusaetha

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Green pit viper. It was not shy for photos

We have arrived to a stream where a small water waterfall is situated at upstream. According to Gayan there is another waterfall called Pahanthudawa (not famous Pahanthudawa falls at Belihuloya) but difficult to go there if water level of the stream is high. As I mentioned above Runakanda had an abundant village only three houses remain at the moment. We have visited two of those houses and met one villager as well. He daily visits his house for the purpose of toddy tapping and tea plucking. He was grateful us to reward some toddy to taste. Next house which was situated at the end of the village was in good condition. We were eager to get photos with it’s stone laid wall. It was the return point of the path.

Enjoying…..

The stream

Small waterfall

Moving upstream

The small waterfall

Fern / මීවන

.	First house we came across.

Time to taste toddy

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.	End of the village

.	Photo shoot

Photo shoot

Photo shoot

Harinda (right) with our guide Gayan (left)

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Though we planned to have a bath from Maguru Oya we had to rush to the conservation center as the rain was around the corner. Gayan presented us delicious vegetarian lunch which is ideal for the time.
It was worth to spend the day at Runakanda and gained a reasonable knowledge in this visit.

Return journey

Lunch

Thank you