February 13, 2013 -- Updated 0311 GMT (1111 HKT)
(CNN) -- Poachers have decimated elephant
populations across Africa and parts of Asia, killing thousands of
animals for their revered ivory.
Yet in Sri Lanka, home to some 7,000 wild Asian elephants, a different, more hopeful story is playing out.
It's a story that's
attracting truckloads of tourists from around the world to witness a
stunning wildlife spectacle, simultaneously raising concerns among
conservationists about how increasing numbers of visitors may be
impacting the large mammals.
In north-central Sri
Lanka's Minneriya National Park, hundreds of elephants travel each year
to the shores of an ancient reservoir built by a king more than 1,700
years ago. They've made the trip for centuries, coming from across the
region to bathe, mate, socialize and, most importantly, to feed as part
of an annual event known as "The Gathering."
During the dry season
(July through early November), the water in the reservoir recedes. In
its place, lush green grasses grow, providing a veritable feast for the
hungry pachyderms.
Between meals, the
elephants head into the reservoir, spraying themselves with the shallow,
muddy waters to create one of the world's biggest pool parties.
"Where else you can get
so close to so many wild elephants at once?" asks James Thomas, a lawyer
visiting The Gathering from Melbourne.
"Watching massive herds of elephants bathe as the sun sets over the nearby mountains is an experience I'll never forget."
Conservation concerns
If you haven't heard of The Gathering or ever seriously considered visiting Sri Lanka, you're not alone.
The island nation's prolonged civil war, which ended in May 2009, kept the country off most people's itineraries.
Since then, however,
word of Sri Lanka's diverse wildlife, spectacular beaches and myriad
cultural activities has spread: in 2012, tourist arrivals grew 17.5
percent over 2011, hitting 1,055,605, according to government officials.
While the growth has
boosted tourism-related revenue, the volume of visitors to Minneriya --
and the 4WDs required to transport them through the park -- has caught
the attention of wildlife conservationists.
They worry added traffic
is negatively impacting not only the fragile reserve, but also the
health and behavior of the animals the visitors are traveling to see.
"The increasing number
of vehicles in the park and the unruly behavior of most are cause for
much concern," says Ravi Corea, president of the Sri Lankan Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS).
"Vehicles approach
elephants too closely and disrupt them from feeding, mating, nursing and
socializing. In addition, they are habituating elephants to charge
vehicles, which they will continue to do once they leave the national
park with the beginning of the rains."
On a safari I joined earlier this year, I experienced these issues firsthand.
During our trip, the
tour driver inadvertently parked in the path of a mother and baby
elephant, obstructing their way to a watering hole. When a nearby bull
elephant took notice, he quickly moved in to protect them, charging our
vehicle in the process.
Our driver reacted quickly and moved us to safety.
Corea and others fear
it's only a matter of time before someone's luck runs out and an
elephant or tourists are seriously injured.
Conservationists are
pushing government and park officials to ensure animals, humans and the
local environment are better protected.
Recommendations include
implementing stringent policies to govern how visitors and guides behave
in the park, as well as providing training for rangers and drivers on
how to conduct themselves while in the presence of wild elephants.
Drivers would need certification to take visitors to the park, and they
could face fines if caught violating park regulations.
Tracking the elephants
Additional proposals
include documenting the movement of the elephants beyond Minneriya's
unfenced borders. SLWCS also hopes to map the entire ecological cycle of
the animals as part of efforts to ensure the slaughters occurring in
places like Africa and Vietnam don't happen in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, the Sri
Lankan Tourism Development Authority is pinning its hopes on the
continued success of The Gathering, even building specific marketing
activities around the annual event in an effort to attract more visitors
to Minneriya.
In 2011, officials
christened September "Wildlife Month," distributing full-color brochures
that proclaimed The Gathering "one of the most unforgettable and
fantastic events in the international wildlife calendar."
As word about
Minneriya's main attraction spreads, the hope is that massive herds of
elephants will continue migrating to the park each dry season, as they
have for hundreds of years.
As long as they do, it's
a safe bet that more and more tourists will travel to Sri Lanka to
experience what truly is one of the world's greatest wildlife events.
Minneriya National
Park is about 180 kilometers from Colombo International Airport, a
four-hour drive. The best time to see The Gathering is during the dry
season, from June to September.
A number of local operators offer day trips to the area, which can be arranged from your hotel.
Accommodation options
include resorts and bungalows just a few kilometers outside the
national park. At the high end of the price stick is luxury tented camp Mahoora.
For those who would rather have the whole trip arranged for them, tour companies like Asialuxe
offer multi-day packages including airfare.
Residents of Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom are
required to apply for a tourist visa before arrival in Sri Lanka.
Applications can be made online.
