The narration is ready, do you have the footage?
A documentary on the Sri Lankan wild buffalo is being made
A Sri Lankan Junglefowl calls out to you.
(Best read in the voice of David Attenborough)
In the heart of Sri Lanka’s wild landscapes, a formidable figure emerges—the Sri Lankan wild buffalo. Muscular, majestic, and vital to its ecosystem, this creature is more than meets the eye.
[Footage of a buffalo wallowing in a muddy pool]
Here, in the sweltering tropical heat, survival demands ingenuity. The wild buffalo takes to the mud—a simple act that conceals remarkable complexity. Without sweat glands to cool its massive body, the buffalo relies on a thick layer of mud as its natural air conditioner. This muddy coating shields it from the sun’s punishing rays and keeps its body temperature in check.
[Close-up of flies buzzing around but unable to penetrate the mud layer]
But there’s more. The mud also serves as armour, protecting against biting flies and parasites. As it dries and flakes away, it carries with it any unwelcome pests, leaving the buffalo cleansed and unbothered.
[Wide shot of a herd wallowing together]
These mud baths aren’t just practical—they’re social. Here, buffaloes gather, strengthening the bonds that are critical to their survival. In numbers, they find safety, their unity a shield against predators like leopards and crocodiles lurking nearby.
[Buffalo locking horns in slow motion]
Dominance within the herd is established through displays of power. Horn clashes between males are both dramatic and decisive, with some horns stretching up to five feet long—natural tools for defence and hierarchy.
[Footage of buffalo grazing in grasslands]
Their diet may seem simple—grasses, aquatic plants, and leaves—but their grazing transforms the landscape. By maintaining grasslands and wetlands, these animals create habitats for countless other species, playing the role of nature’s architects.
[Closing aerial shot of a herd moving across the plains]
The Sri Lankan wild buffalo—powerful, resourceful, and essential. A testament to nature’s ability to thrive in even the most challenging environments.
Story of the Photo
Wild buffaloes are a common sight in the waterholes and plains of Sri Lanka’s National Parks. Dilum captured this stunning shot of a buffalo cooling off during the afternoon, shortly after setting off on a safari from the Mahoora Tented Safari Camp in Yala.
