27/01/2026
At The Warden’s House, we’ve started a little nocturnal experiment, to discover who visits us under the cloak of night. Camera traps were quietly set, and the results amazed us: the forest came alive in ways even we didn’t expect.
Among our silent visitors:
1. Fishing Cat – A medium-sized wild cat perfectly adapted to wetlands, with webbed feet that make it an expert hunter of fish and amphibians.
2. Sri Lanka Spotted Chevrotain - "moschiola meminna" is endemic to the dry zone of Sri Lanka and is likely widespread throughout this region, which covers most of the island outside the wet zone.
3. Porcupine – Large, nocturnal rodents covered in protective quills, porcupines forage for roots, fruits, and bark, helping aerate the soil and spread seeds.
4. Small Indian Civet – A sleek, nocturnal carnivore, feeding on insects, small vertebrates, and fruits. It’s a rare privilege to witness the secret life of the forest, and even through the lens of a camera trap, the energy and harmony of Yala’s nocturnal world is spellbinding.