Elephas maximus maximus
Asian Elephant
Around 350 in Yala, herds all year in Udawalawe, and between 15 and 60 in Bundala depending on the season.
- About 350
- 15–60, seasonal
- Udawalawe, all year
- Late afternoon at water
Yala holds roughly 350 elephants, and a drive rarely passes without one. Bulls work the tracks alone; breeding herds stay near water and move with the rain.
Udawalawe is the certainty. Open grassland around a large reservoir means the herds are visible almost every day of the year, which is why we send cruise passengers there when they have one morning ashore.
In Bundala numbers swing between about 15 and 60 depending on the season, with December the strongest month.
Where to look
Reservoir edges and open pans in the afternoon; forest tracks in the early morning.
How often it is seen
Seen on almost every drive
Also in the park