Monkeys in Negombo Lagoon

A little while back we went for a boat ride in the Negombo canals and lagoon.  What fun!

First some history….Between 1802 and 1804, the British built 14.5 km of canals from Puttalam to Colombo, to drain salt water from the Muthurajawela wetlands.  Confused by the long names with a million vowels?  Me too!  What’s important, is that these canals run through Negombo and are still in use today.  Mostly by fishing boats.  But also by tour boats.

Our tour lasted about 3 hours.  The first and last part were in the canal. The middle part was the lagoon.  The highlights?  Definitely the monkeys in the lagoon!!!  Our boat driver brought bananas to cut up and put on the bow of the boat, about 1 foot from me!  

As we approached some trees, tadah!!!  A whole bunch of monkeys appeared.  When we got close enough, they jumped onto the boat and stuffed their little faces with bits of banana.  While the monkeys were eating, the driver moved our boat away from the trees.  Oh no!  How will the monkeys get back?  They jump and swim.  That’s how!!!  What a treat!!

It was dusk when we returned.  The next best part?  Seeing fruit bats in the trees around the canal!!!  So awesome to see them fly!  I’ve been on a mission during the trip to see bats.  That was a great start!  But I want more!

Pictures

1- Some of the monkeys enjoying their banana snack. Did you know?...There are more than 300 species of primates on earth, including humans, apes, monkeys, and lemurs. All primates have

hands, handlike feet, and forward-facing eyes. Monkeys have tails, apes do not. Monkey species include baboons, macaques, marmosets, tamarins, and capuchins. Ape species include humans, gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, gibbons, and bonobos. 

2- Notice the baby holding onto it's mother!

3- Tom, our very generous host, and the family that helps him care for his house came with us on the boat trip.   So fun!

4- Toby and me.

5- Some sections of the canal were beautiful like this.  Others had some very basic houses right next to it, and lots of garbage. 

6- We stopped at a hotel called Kings Island Resort for a drink/snack.  The hotel was closed.  But there was still some fun to be had. 

7- Shiva, Tom's caretaker, cutting up more banana for the monkeys.

8- On our way back, crossing the lagoon which is about 500 m wide, some fishermen wanted to be sure we saw their nets,which were almost as wide as the lagoon.

9-A pretty part of the lagoon with the golden light of the setting sun.