Big Five and "The Gathering"

Giants live in Sri Lanka. The island's blue waters are home to the world's only resident population of blue whales, the world's largest mammal. Large groups of whales can be seen off Sri Lanka's south coast at Mirissa from December to April as they make their annual migration from the Bay of Bengal to the Arabian Sea. 

Also, sperm whales are frequently sighted near Dondra Head on the island's southern coast because it provides ample food. 

The Sri Lankan leopard, the island's top predator, is one of the world's largest leopard subspecies. Yala National Park is the best area on the earth to see leopards in the wild, with the largest density of these elusive creatures. Leopards are the smallest of all the big cats, yet they are the most widespread of all wild cats. They are remarkable hunters, stalking their prey to within meters before chasing them down with their muscular rear legs at speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour.

The country is also the best place in the world to see and photograph the Sloth Bear, the world's largest tropical bear.  The beautiful Sri Lankan elephant, the world's largest Asian elephant subspecies, clearly steals the show in this battle of the big five.

In the dry season in Sri Lanka, large elephants have less access to water. They travel from all over to drink from the Minneriya tank, by a king more than 1,700 years ago. This water supply keeps them coming back year after year. Not only will they find drinking water here, but when the water in the tank recedes, they will be able to graze on fresh, green grass shoots. A far more appetizing feast than arid scrubland! Tall plants and trees surround the tank, providing adequate shade for the elephants during the hot days. They begin to emerge as the sun sets, starting with one or two and increasing to 300 at peak times. They graze, drink, play, and even find and socialize with one another here. This is known as "The Gathering".