Sri Lanka has one of the highest species densities in the world including a number of endemic plants and animals. Unusually for a moderately sized island it also has large mammals. It is one of the best places in the world for seeing and photographing Blue Whales, Sperm Whales, Leopards, Asian Elephants and Sloth Bears, dubbed Sri Lanka's 'Big Five'. It also has the largest annually recurring 'Gathering' of wild elephants of anywhere in the word; a truly spectacular event. This book brings together all of Sri Lanka's top wildlife stories, many of which have come to light only in the last few years. Further chapters detail wildlife watching opportunities for primates, birds, reptiles, turtles, butterflies and dragonflies; a description of the parks and reserves by habitat type; and a wildlife watching calendar to help plan a trip. Throughout the book there are extracts from 'A Naturalist's Journal' which in the form of a first person commentary take readers to specific habitats in search of the animals to be found there.

Few animal groups can represent the greatest (insects) and most threatened (freshwater) biodiversity on Earth as well as dragonflies, perhaps the best-known and most colourful of all aquatic insects. Extending from Sudan and Somalia to Zambia and Mozambique, including the entire eastern half of the Congo Basin, this book covers a third of Africa.