Animals Archives - GlenMyu Estate Luxury Bed and Breakfast

Animals in Asia

Animals that live at our visit GlenMyu Estate., Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel / By Mikeez

Animals in Asia

In November 2024, The UK’s This Morning programme started a series on the Animals of Asia.

In the first feature, Dr Scott looks for Elephants in Sri Lanka.

Watch the clip from This Morning to see his amazing experience of his search for animals in Asia.

Supporting Biodiversity at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lanka

Since we moved to Sri Lanka some eight years ago one of our aims was to encourage wildlife to visit GlenMyu Estate.

We are continuing our work creating a habit and food forest to bring a wider biodiversity to the 5 acres of land.

By staying at GlenMyu Estate on part of your holiday, you will be helping to support our work.

Where can I see Elephants in Sri Lanka?

It’s possible to see elephants as you drive around the country.

Some of the roads on the island have been built close to elephant corridors. You will see warning signs on roads to drive carefully as you may come across elephants on or beside the road!

Animals in Asia - Safari Parks

There are lots of safari parks located around the island.

Here are a few picks from a much longer list of parks you can visit on your holiday in Sri Lanka.

Great for elephants:

Udawalawe National Park

Minneriya National Park

Kaudulla National Park

A wider variety of wildlife

Yala National Park

Wilpattu National Park

Wasgamuwa National Park

Bundala National Park

Flood Plains National Park

Maduru Oya Park Sri Lanka

Great for birds and birdwatchers

Thangamale Bird Sanctuary

Kumana National Park

Gal Oya National Park

Horton Plains National Park

Elephant Orphanages and Sanctuaries

There are lots of elephant orphanages located in Sri Lanka.

In this article by ‘Elephant Sanctuary Sri Lanka’ they cover the following orphanages and sanctuaries:

Udawalawa Elephants Transit Home

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Millennium Elephant Foundation (Private Project)

Elephant Freedom Project (Private Project)

Some of our guests at GlenMyu Estate have volunteered at Elephant Orphanages prior to staying with us in the Sri Lankan Hill country.

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage

The most well known elephant orphanage is Pinnawela which is located 10 km north-west of Kegalle town and very close to Rambukkana town

Elephant Orphanages - the good and the bad

There are mixed reviews and feelings about visiting and supporting elephant orphanages.

Some people love the experience and think that the orphanages are a good idea. Others believe that the way the animals are treated and the conditions are far from good.

Here are video from ‘Poohs World’ and Trisha & Nikhil showing their experiences at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage .

This Blog Post from Hand Luggage Only highlights the negative side of orphanages.

Animals in Asia - Not just Elephants!

Although seeing elephants in Sri Lanka is a great experience, there is lots of other wildlife to see throughout the island.

In most parts of the island there are National Parks and Safari Parks that all offer different experiences.

As you travel around the island you will see a wide variety of colourful birdlife.

Taking an organised tour or safari in one of the well know parks will ensure that you see more wildlife than you would on your own.

Lots of the safari guides are amazing a spotting animals in the jungle that I would missed.

Encouraging wildlife at GlenMyu Estate

GlenMyu Estate is a luxury bed and breakfast located in 5 acres of the beautiful Sri Lankan Hill country.

The once abandoned estate has and continues to be restored into a haven for wildlife. We have consciously planted species at the estate that will attract, feed and provide a home to a variety of wildlife.

Our ultimate aim is to create a food forest that will provide a food source for us, our guests and the wildlife that visit and live at the estate.

It is early days creating this haven and by spending part of your holiday at GlenMyu Estate, you help to support our ultimate goal.

Some animals and birds seen at GlenMyu Estate

I clearly need to replace my camera to get some beer photos!

However, these photos will provide you with an idea of what you mights see if you stay at GlenMyu Estate.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate, enjoy nature and explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see animals in this part of Asia.

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Animals in Asia Read More »

ITV’s This Mornings’ Dr Scott explores the animals of Asia

Animals that live at our visit GlenMyu Estate., Birds, Birdwatching, Holiday, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

ITV This Mornings' Dr Scotts 'Animals of Asia'

In a brand new series on ITV’s This Morning programme Dr Scott Millar explores the ‘Animals of Asia’.

Dr Scott is embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime trip around the tropical island of Sri Lanka.

On the 5th of November 2024 Dr Scott was out on safari in Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka searching for the Asian elephant.

This Morning - a daytime magazine TV programme

ITV’s This Morning is a British daytime magazine programme that is broadcast on ITV live every weekday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The programme covers a whole range of topics including news, celeb guests, expert advice, real-life stories and competitions, plus a mix of cookery, health and more.

Dr Scott visits Udawalawe National Park to see the Elephants there.

We can see the reservoir at Udawalawe which provides water for the animals in the park in the distance from our lounge at GlenMyu Estate.

He watches a Crested Hawk Eagle having a bath in the water close to his safari vehicle.

Dr Scott comments that he is in Sri Lanka as it has the highest density of elephants anywhere in the region.

Dr Scott describes himself as a “Broadcaster Author Welfare and Wildlife Warrior” on his Instagram profile.

He also has a Tok Tok channel called Rescue Vet which mainly show his work with animals in the UK.

Rescue Vet

The vet has his own YouTube Channel called Rescue Vet.

This channel shows fresh and new Dr Scott content. It takes a sneak peek inside a Veterinary practice in London.

Sri Lanka - the best place to see animals in their natural environment

According to Dr Scott, Sri Lanka is the nest place to see animals in their natural environment.

On ITV’s This Morning Programme he focussed on the Elephants

There however, is a human elephant conflict in Sri Lanka where the elephants habitat is reducing as more development is taking place.

Sri Lankan Elephants

According to the World Wildlife Fund ‘The Sri Lankan subspecies is the largest and also the darkest of the Asian elephants”

The herd size in Sri Lanka ranges from 12-20 individuals or more. It is led by the oldest female, or matriarch.

The Sri Lankan elephant population has fallen almost 65% since the turn of the 19th century.

Safari Parks in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has many safari parks around the island, all of which provide different experiences to see the animals in their environment.

The most well known is Yala National Park which is on the Southern Coast. Lots of our guests at GlenMyu Estate visit Yala prior or after their stay in the Central Hills of the country. Yala has a wide range of animals that you may see on your safari.

We can see Udawalawe Reservoir from the main lounge at GlenMyu Estate. This National Park is great if you want to see mainly Elephants.

There are many other National Parks around the country where our guests have provided positive feedback on their visits.

We have been to Minneriya and Kaudulla National Parks which were particularly good for seeing elephants and birds.

There are many other safari parks around the country which provides a variety of experiences and animals and birds to see.

If you are interested in birdwatching then there are some parks that are particularly good. Sinharaja, Kumana, Bundala, and Gal Oya are just a few of many options.

Building a habitat to encourage animals to thrive at GlenMyu Estate

From the outset building GlenMyu Estate, we were focused on bringing biodiversity back to the once dilapidated five acres of land.

The land was once part of a larger tea estate and then a sugar cane plantation. When the production of sugar cane became uneconomic, the land was abandoned.

When Ru bought the land, it was overgrown with mainly Guinea Grass, which was brought in to Sri Lanka as quick growing cattle fodder. It took over the land and did not allow any of the endemic species to thrive.

We have taken some years to take out much of this unwanted grass and aimed to create a food forest. The produce would be a source of food for ourselves, our guests and the animals that visit the estate.

The forest is still in its infancy, however, Ru loves to give our guests a garden tour to show what we are growing on the estate.

Leaving space for the flora and fauna

We also wanted to make sure that we did not overdevelop the land so that we could provide space for flora and fauna.

Commercially, it would have made sense for us to build lots of other guest accommodation around the estate. However, this would not leave sufficient space to create the habitat for the animals that visit or have their home on the estate.

What animal life will you see at GlenMyu Estate?

Nature does not guarantee anything however we regularly get one of two types of monkey visiting the estate.

Occasionally you may see a Barking Deer in the distance.

However, we can almost guarantee that you will see a variety of birdlife foraging at the estate every day.

Support our work by staying at GlenMyu Estate

By choosing GlenMyu Estate as part of your holiday in Sri Lanka you will be supporting the work that we are doing on the land to encourage wildlife to thrive here.

You will also have an amazing experience, as supported by the guest reviews that we have on various platforms.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more.

ITV’s This Mornings’ Dr Scott explores the animals of Asia Read More »

Developing an interest in Birdwatching

Animals that live at our visit GlenMyu Estate., Birds, Ella, Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Our Animals at GlenMyu Estate, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Developing an interest in birdwatching in Sri Lanka.

It’s easy to develop an interest in bird watching in Sri Lanka. The birds appear to be more interesting on this paradise island.

Whether it is the colours of their feathers or just the light that they fly in, it has heightened my interest.

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It’s easy to develop an interest in birdwatching in Sri Lanka.

There are many endemic species, residents and migrants to spark your curiosity.

According to Nature Odyssey, currently there are 33 identified species of endemic birds in Sri Lanka, out of which most are found in the wet zone

A colourful world

I didn’t really have much of an interest in birdwatching when I lived the UK.

Since living in Sri Lanka my curiosity about all forms of nature has increased. Perhaps it’s just living in a place that is surrounded by nature.

Maybe it’s because the birds appears to have so much more colour than those in the UK.

A little help from our neighbours to bring about an interest in birdwatching

At GlenMyu Estate we are really fortunate that some of our neighbours have a lifetime interest in birdwatching.

They have helped develop our interest in birding and we have often had informal early birdwatching session with our neighbours on the estate.

Some of our guests have got up early and joined our neighbours at their estate for a bird watching session.

Informal birdwatching opportunities

Sri Lanka really is a paradise island and there are lots of opportunities for spotting birds.

You don’t just have to visit a reserve or sanctuary. As you travel around the country you will see birdlife wherever you go.

Sri Lankan bird sanctuaries

There are a large number of wildlife sanctuaries in Sri Lanka and there are many that have a great variety of birds which will interest birdwatchers.

Sri Lanka Birdwatching Tours has a long list of great places that you should visit in Sri Lanka if you have a particular interest in birding.

It's not all about Elephants and Leopards on Safari!

There are lots of safari parks around the island that offer different experiences.

One thing that you will always find it an array of birdlife.

Lots of our guests come to GlenMyu Estate and are disappointed that they didn’t get to see that elusive Leopard. I’ve never seen a Leopard in Sri Lanka and therefore I’m not too surprised (however I am disappointed for them).

Birds are always present in the National Parks and , if you look close enough, you will get your wildlife fill from what you see.

Bring your binoculars

Nowadays, no-one leaves home without their mobile phone. Sure, you can snap away when you spot any wildlife.

However, carrying your binoculars with you means that you are more likely to get a good view of the birds you will see Ella round the island.

Birdwatching opportunities near to GlenMyu Estate, Haputale.

If you are interested in birdwatching spending time at GlenMyu Estate will provide you with lots of opportunities to see a variety fo birdlife.

You can see some of the birds that I have managed to capture with my camera by pressing on the following link.

Thangamale and the Pekoe Trail Stage 12

This sanctuary is located within reach of GlenMyu Estate, just outside of Haputale.

Some of the sanctuary falls within Stage 12 of the new Pekoe Trail and therefore you can get some exercise, see some fabulous views and practice your hobby all on the same day.

Birdwatching at GlenMyu Estate

Throughout the year we have regular flying visitors at GlenMyu Estate.

We have developed the land to encourage wildlife to visit and forage from our five acres in the Sri Lankan Hill country.

I do not profess to be the best wildlife photographer, so my photos are not great.

Perhaps you can do better and share them with me so that I can add them to my bird photo gallery on our website?

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and enjoy the nature of the Sri Lankan Hill Country

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Developing an interest in Birdwatching Read More »

Ben Fogle and the Sri Lankan Vet

Animals that live at our visit GlenMyu Estate., Charity work in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Our Animals at GlenMyu Estate, Our dogs, Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Ben Fogle and the Sri Lankan Vet

Ben Fogle and the Sri Lankan Vet.

Channel 5’s New Lives in the Wild revisited Janey, the British vet, who cares for dogs in Sri Lanka.

Ben Fogle’s original visit to see Janey Lowes work, was aired in 2019 on the Channel 5 series.

The latest program highlights how the charity WeCare Worldwide is struggling to cope with the growth since 2016. Capacity at it’s home in Talalla, funding and a shortage in medicines such as rabies shots are key issues.

You can read more in the following Daily Mirror Article.

Janey is confident in approaching street dogs in Sri Lanka. You can watch this clip on Facebook of Janey and Ben meeting a stray dog.
Janey diagnoses the issues that the dog has before starting some treatment.

Click on the following link to be redirected to Apple TV to find out how to watch the programme.

Ben Fogle has an Instagram page where you can read all about the people and places he meets and visits on New Lives in the Wild.

Janey, the British Vet doing amazing things in Sri Lanka

The British vet is located on the south coast of Sri Lanka. She has been doing amazing things for the animals that she treats since she moved to this paradise island.

WeCare Worldwide is a worthy charity which is in need of support.

Please visit their website to find out more information and see how you can provide help and support.

You can follow Janey on her Instagram account to see what she has been doing since the TV program.

Animal Charities is a website which has a blog on what animals charities you can help.

They have highlighted WeCare Worldwide on their most recent blog.

If you want to know more about Janey’s storey, you can read this article “Rugby WAG turned street vet reveals how a row with her ex at the airport changed her life forever” published in MailOnline in May 2021.

Other Dog Charities in Sri Lanka

Dr Janey does fantastic work. There are several other organisations that also support street dogs.

Local to GlenMyu Estate is Dogs’ of Ella.

Dogs of Ella

We, at GlenMyu Estate, are aware of the work that the Dogs of Ella charity does for two reasons.

Firstly, we met co-founder of the charity, Jessica Nehlich, when we were visiting the vet in Bandarawella with some of our dogs for treatment.

Jessica was there with three dogs being treated by Uva Pet Care Animal hospital.

We also knew about Dogs of Ella as we have had guests from Germany and the Netherlands who have visited the charity, volunteered and provided some financial support.

Embark Passion

Philanthropist, Otara Gunewardene, through the Otara Foundation, founded Embark which work to improve the welfare of street dogs in Sri Lanka.

Many dogs are provided with healthcare before being fostered or adopted.

Here are some videos that show the great work that the foundations supports.

Tails of Freedom - rescuing commercially bred dogs in Sri Lanka

Another excellent initiative is by Tails of Freedom which is a non profit organisation in Sri Lanka.

It is dedicated to the rescue of abused purebred companion animals.

We support rescue dogs at GlenMyu Estate

At GlenMyu Estate, we love our animals.
We have taken in and re-homed many puppies since we moved to the area in 2018.
Our rescue dogs are an important part of the estate and our guests really enjoy interacting with them.

They are used to regularly receiving and entertaining our guests.

You will also find rescue cows and chickens at the estate. We enjoy telling our gifts all about stories of how they arrived here.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and meet our rescue dogs, cows and chickens.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Ben Fogle and the Sri Lankan Vet Read More »

My wife’s birthday present to herself.

Animals that live at our visit GlenMyu Estate., Holiday / By Mikeez

My wife's birthday present to herself

My wife’s birthday present to herself.

You may be surprised what the lady, who worked in the fashion industry before moving to Sri Lanka, bought for herself.

A dream made real.

I didn’t know when we met where we would end up.

It’s not something that you discuss on an initial date.

I don’t have the type of character that would naturally discuss dreams and aspirations.

We did discuss a future plan. I saw it as a change at the right time of my life. A chance to get some time back.

My wife is Sri Lankan and we met when she was working in the UK.

And how did you meet?

Lots of our guests at GlenMyu Estate ask how we met. Some are surprised that we met on the dance floor in International Student House, near Great Portland Street.
At the time she was in the country only occasionally and we always danced together when we met. It took her almost nine months to ask me out. Yes, she asked, I didn’t read the signs.

A relationship and a plan.

During our years in the UK my wife always said that her plan was to go back to Sri Lanka at one point.
Our relationship blossomed and I guess I was in on the plan.
Maybe I didn’t listen hard enough, but I understood that the reason she wanted to go home was to live with her parents.

What I didn’t hear (or listen to) was that she really wanted an organic farm and to look after animals.

Things evolved.

Plans change in life and our initial idea of living in Colombo and using a smaller version of the house at GlenMyu Estate as a holiday home changed.

I really couldn’t manage with the heat in Colombo (almost 10 degrees Celsius more than the hills). The feeling of being a prisoner in the morning and evening avoiding the mosquitos was also not pleasant. Although there are mosquitos in the hills, the temperature results in very few bothering me. I can sit out in the evenings in the cooling air and not be pestered.

Our plan changed and it fell in line with my wife’s dream of living in the mountains and creating an organic farm.

A lot of work, a bed and breakfast and lots of animals.

Roll on to the present time and after a lot of hard work and persistence we created GlenMyu Estate.

The estate is funded by having guests stay with us when they are on holiday in Sri Lanka. Being around an hour away from Ella, Nine Arch Bridge, Little Adam’s Peak etc, we are a good alternative to the busy tourist town. We have great reviews from our guests and they rave about Ru’s food.
As we only have three bedrooms availability is getting scarce during the peak holiday periods.

We have gathered some animals which are an added interest to the guests that stay.

My wife's first birthday present to herself.

As you get older it’s hard to chose a birthday present for your partner.

In the UK it was a little easier as Ru was really interested in cooking. So, cook books were welcomed.

I managed to get several books signed by Rick Stein over the years through my brother who drove him around for a period and also standing in line at a book signing at Waterstones. There were books from other authors and Le Cordon Bleu as Ru carried out a short course there.
My mother lives in West Cork, Ireland and there are books from great producers such as Gubbeen and by her acquaintances including also Darina Allen from Ballymaloe.

In Sri Lanka, living away from Colombo, it is a little more difficult choosing a suitable present.

As we were driving from Haputale to Beragala, my wife decided that she wanted to buy four ducks for her birthday. I guess this is where buying her own birthday presents started.

The ducks were installed at GlenMyu Estate and have multiple over the years to around twenty. They add something special to the environment and I find watching them quite meditative.
Ru has a special relationship with our original mother duck who follows her around and is more like a pet.

Her latest birthday present to herself.

In December 2022 we took ownership of our rescue cow Maali.
She has also become a great addition to the estate and provides us with manure for our organic garden.

Unfortunately, being alone, behaviour problems started to arise and she would try to play and heat butt our dogs, ducks and chickens in the afternoon.

Having read more about the issue it was clear that cows, being a herd animal, need some company of their own kind.

An opportunity arose to chose a new birthday present.

One of our neighbours had a bull calf which was destined for the slaughterhouse.
Females are the important ones as they produce milk and generate an income for these smallholders.

Ru was given the opportunity to rescue the bull calf and, after a little discussion with me, she decided that this would be her birthday present to herself.

The birthday present would not just be purchasing the bull calf, but also building a new cowshed where he and Maali could stay. Maali’s accommodation was not big enough for two.

My wife's birthday present.

My wife used to work in the clothing and fashion industry. I think that if you asked us ten years ago what she would be getting for a birthday present, a bull calf would not have arisen as a choice!
Life has changed and perhaps there will be another life saved with her choice of birthday present next year.

Not just a bull calf for her birthday.

The day of my wife’s birthday included feeding stray dogs with the big batch of chicken and rice that had been made that morning.

Lots of poor creatures were fed on the way to the beauty salon where she spent a lot of the remainder of her birthday being pampered

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and meet our animals.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours or so drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

My wife’s birthday present to herself. Read More »

Our cow got a friend.

Animals that live at our visit GlenMyu Estate., Holiday, Our Animals at GlenMyu Estate, Our dogs, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Our cow got a friend.

Our cow got a friend.

Maali is excited as she finally has a friend at GlenMyu Estate to accompany her as she grazes at the 5 acre estate.

Read on to find out how this came about.

If you want to read about how Maali arrived at GlenMyu Estate please read our articles “We got a Cow” and also “The Cow, a year on (almost)”.

Dogs and ducks as friends and playmates?

Maali was a little confused. She cleary was lonely and decided that her playmates were the dogs, ducks and chickens.

Maali would graze for the morning until mid afternoon and then we would let her free to room and forage.

So cute, but such bad behaviour.

Maali settled into GlenMyu Estate quite quickly. She was let free on the estate to forage and eat what she liked. Life is a learning curve and we realised that we would have to tie Maali to one spot for a few hours to concentrate on feeding in one area. She had a tendency to flit from one place to the other. Sometimes she would come bounding towards us when we were working on the land. It was funny, but sometimes scary and dangerous.

When we started to take her to forage in one part of the land she was quite stubborn and wouldn’t move. I used to play rugby in the front row so there was often a tug of war to get her to move to where we wanted her to go. Luckily I still have a bit ion technique and she hasn’t neaten me yet!

When Maali was released in the early afternoon she would run around like a crazy cow. The puppies would run after her and she would try to butt them with her small horns. This was the same for any ducks or chickens that she came across. We think that this was play rather than anger as she appeared to seek them out when she was loose.

She would bound around the land running more like a cheetah rather than a cow.

Although this did provide some entertainment, I was worried that she would create an accident either to her playmates or herself.

There needed to be a change at GlenMyu Estate.

A little bit of research - Our cow needed a friend.

We did a little bit of research and found that when cows are alone they sometimes develop bad behaviour. They are herd animals and really should be with other cows.

According to Farm House Guide “The truth is that cows are herd animals, and they need friends to help keep them happy and safe”.

We had known for some time that Maali really needed a friend.

So spoilt!

Doesn’t the first one always get spoilt? Maali was certainly spoilt and given a lot a leeway at GlenMyu Estate.

Here she is waiting near the outside kitchen for a snack.

An opportunity arises for our cow to get a friend.

One of our neighbours has cows which are used to supply milk. One of his cows had a bull calf. His mother had been sick when he was born an he was not fully weaned on his mothers milk. This left him with a pot belly which is normal in these circumstances.

Another neighbour had told us that the owner of the bull calf was looking to sell him.
We asked him to get in contact with us.

After a discussion with the owner and the vet, Ru asked the bull calf to be brought along to meet Maali and see whether they would get along with each other.

What was the alternative for the infant calf?

Unfortunately, if we did not buy the calf, he would have been sent to the butcher. This is the normal outcome for these animals in Sri Lanka.

Ru met the calf when he was brought to the land to see whether Maali would accept him.
Both Maali and Ru made a connection straight away and there was only one choice.
He was going to have a new home at GlenMyu Estate.

We try to do our bit.

Unfortunately, we cannot save all the animals we would like to from the fate that this calf would have met.
We have limited space at GlenMyu Estate to allocate to the animals and being on a hill limits our capacity.
However, at least this animal will have a good life ahead of him.

No room at the inn?

We did not plan to have a second cow.
In early 2023 we had constructed a new home for Maali where she was now settled. We had not planned for two animals and there was “no room at the inn’ so to speak.
Therefore, we had to identify a suitable site for a home for two.

A big move and a some investment.

The land at GlenMyu Estate is bisected by a stream that runs through the middle of the land.
The stream runs alongside the swimming pool and forms a natural barrier for each side.

Maaili did some major damage to our flowers and other plants that she found tasty. We used to have a beautiful array of flowers alongside the lawn in front of the house.
Maali used these flowers as a buffet when she wanted some variety from the grass she normally eats. This has left our flowerbeds devastated and not looking very attractive!

The site is identified.

We decided that we would site the two cows in a new spot across the river. A gate would be placed at one side of the stream to protect the plants we have nearer the house.
This would result in the cows being focussed on one side of the land where we would be happy for them to forage.

More work to make a new home for our cow and her new friend.

The arrival of the prodigal son.

Here are some videos we took of the big moment when Maali met her new friend.

Maali was not aware re at first but in the end she looks very happy.

Happy together -Our cow got a friend.

You can see from this photo that Maali is making her acquaintance with her new friends.

The start looks good, let’s se if it continues and they become good friends and companions.

Our hopes for the future for our cow and her new friend.

Our aim is to provide both Maali and her new friend a good, safe life at GlenMyu Estate.
In exchange we expect lots of manure to put on our organic garden.

How can you help?

Income we generate from guests staying at GlenMyu Estate when they are on holiday in Sri Lanka is the way we fund the costs to run the property.

By choosing GlenMyu Estate you will support what we do.

You will also have a great experience when you stay and explore the fantastic sights in the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

Your spend with us help fund the following:
Maali, our cow and her friend.
The cost of feeding and providing medication for our rescue dogs.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate, meet our animals and explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Our cow got a friend. Read More »

10 animals to see on Holiday in Sri Lanka.

Animals that live at our visit GlenMyu Estate., Holiday / By Mikeez

10 Animals To See On Holiday In Sri Lanka at GlenMyu Estate.

10 Animals to see on holiday in Sri Lanka at GlenMyu Estate.

Not the usual elephants, leopards and crocodiles you see on safari. But they are a wonderful sight at Yala, Udawalawe, Minneriya, Wilpattu or one of the other parks. (I haven’t been lucky enough to see a leopard myself.
But the sun must have been shining on lots of our guests at GlenMyu Estate as they show me their great leopard photos!

Some you will definitely see, some you will maybe see and others you will be lucky to see!

Definitely.

Animals that you will definitely see at GlenMyu Estate.

1. Our rescue dogs.

We have several rescue dogs at GlenMyu Estate.

Although we did not plan to have dogs, we appear to have gathered a few. My wife and I blame our first dog, Clove, for our collection. If Clove had not been such a nice, loving character then we may have been more reluctant to take on more rescue dogs.

I have finally put my foot down and we are at our maximum number of pups at GlenMyu Estate.

2. Animals you will see on holiday in Sri Lanka - Our rescue chickens.

We have rescue dogs and now we have rescue chickens!

Again, we never planned to have chickens.

This situation changed when one of our acquaintances could not afford to feed his chickens when the financial crisis hot Sri Lanka. The cost of chicken layers feed was either not available or exorbitantly expensive.

We decided to take them on.

The chickens were being kept in a shed and did not have the freedom to roam and forage.
At GlenMyu Estate we have five acres of land.
We decided to buy the chickens and create a safe space for them to live. The plan was for the chickens to forage around the estate and we would not have the cost of feed. We were pleased that the chickens settled in well and although they had not been conditioned to forage, those instincts kicked in quite quickly.

You live and learn and after we lost a few chickens to Mongoose and Eagles, we increased their security. They now have a bespoke house in which to live. The coop is fenced off with chicken wire which helps fend off predators. We even have a fishing net above the coop to stop the eagles flying in.

One of our staff looks after the chickens when they are out of the coop foraging. It makes the eggs that we get very expensive, but they are delicious. Despite losing a few chickens the numbers have increased as we get new chicks every so often.

Despite the cost we are happy that we have provided these rescue chickens with a good place for them to live.

3. Ducks foraging around the five acre estate.

The ducks have been at GlenMyu Estate for a longer period than the chickens. Ru wanted to get some ducks as her birthday present, so off we went.

The initial four ducks have multiplied up to around twenty. I was getting worried that they would keep on multiplying and we would have created a problem.

The duckling production has slowed so we appear to have a manageable number at this time.

I really enjoy watching the ducks forage around the estate and swim in the various ponds and streams around the estate.

4. Maali, our rescue cow.

We have a rescue cow called Maali. She arrived at GlenMyu Estate in December 2022. She is an important part of life at GlenMyu Estate and has settled in well. Maali grazes in the land and provide good nutrition for our garden. She adds to the landscape and her character has developed since she has been at the estate and she provides us with lots of laughs and entertainment.

You can read more about Maali in our articles “We got a cow” and “The cow – a year on”.

Maybe/probably

Animals that you will probably see at GlenMyu Estate.

5. Monkeys - Toque Macaues or Tufted Grey Langurs.

Toque macaques are found only in Sri Lanka

They are regular visitors to the trees at GlenMyu Estate and forage on leaves and any fruits that they can get without being disturbed by our dogs.

You can read more about Toque macaques at NePrimate Conservacy.

Tufted Grey Langurs also visit the trees at the estate quite often, but less than the Macaques.
They mainly eat the leaves on the trees and sometimes are seen bounding over the floor playing or getting to a new safe spot. Read more about Tufted Grey Langurs here.

6. Flameback Woodpeckers.

The Red-backed flameback, Lesser Sri Lanka flameback, Sri Lanka red-backed woodpecker or Ceylon red-backed woodpecker are endemic to Sri Lanka.

They live to eat the ripe Jackfruit from our trees.

7. Black Eagles.

We regularly hear the screech of the Black eagle as it circles around the hills near GlenMyu Estate.

Sometimes there are two or three in the air circling, searching for food.

When we hear the screeches we run to protect our ducks and chickens.

Only if you are lucky!

Animals that you will might see, if you are lucky, at GlenMyu Estate.

8. Animals you may see on holiday in Sri Lanka - Porcupines.

We do have porcupines that come to the land and dig up some of our young coconut trees and other roots. You can read more about porcupines in the following Daily News article “Pangolins and Porcupines”.

We have seen they in our vegetable garden occasionally but they scatter away too fast t get a photo.

9. A Giant squirrel.

A don’t have a good photo of a giant squirrel just yet, however you can see what they look like in the following link to Animal Bio.

They normally like to spend their time in more wooded areas and we do not have sufficient tree cover at the moment. Our neighbours have created a forest and they have plenty of visits from Giant Squirrels.

Our neighbours have difficulty in getting a harvest from the crops that they plant because of the Giant Squirrels, so we are happy that it is only an occasional visitor.

10. Barking Deer.

You will be lucky to spot a Barking Deer or Mouse Deer at GlenMyu Estate.

This picture was taken on a long lens as it was eating grass at the far end of the estate. As soon as the dogs are aware that the deer is on the land, they bark, and the deer runs off to safety.

And too many more to mention!

Of course, there are may more animals to see on holiday in Sri Lanka.

I could have mentioned the snakes. Occasionally we see a Cobra when it come out to bathe in the sun or forage for food.
However we regularly see the rat snake. (don’t worry, it’s not venomous).

Hopefully we don’t see the Mongoose. They have been successful in having some of our ducks for lunch!

There is a vast array of birds that visit the estate and too many for a list of ten. We regularly have birdwatching sessions with our neighbours and are ticking off the birds that we spot.

Bats fly around the estate when the sun goes down.

We have lots of insects coming to the estate. The Christmas Fly is a pain when it comes but the frogs, geckos and birds have a feast.

10 Animals to see on holiday in Sri Lanka at GlenMyu Estate -Summary

Our rescue dogs.
Our rescue chickens.
Ducks foraging around the five acre estate.
Maali, our rescue cow.
Monkeys – Toque Macaues or Tufted Grey Langurs.
Flameback Woodpeckers.
Black Eagles.
Porcupines.
A giant squirrel.
Barking Deer.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and see the animals that visit the land.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

10 animals to see on Holiday in Sri Lanka. Read More »

The cow – a year on (almost)

Animals that live at our visit GlenMyu Estate., Our Animals at GlenMyu Estate / By Mikeez

The Cow - a year on (well almost!)

The cow – a year on – well almost! Here is an update on our cow Maali who has lived at GlenMyu Estate since December 2022. .

If you have read our previous article “We got a cow!”, then perhaps you will be interested in an update on how we have got on so far.

Maali is now part of the family

After my initial hesitation and worry about having a cow on the estate, Maali is now ensconced into our family at GlenMyu Estate. Maali is very comfortable living on the estate and her character has really developed since December 2022.

All the other animals are used to Maali going about her business although the dogs still make a fuss when she comes back from her day grazing.

Some of the issue with the dogs have been brought about by Maali herself. We think that, as she is a herd animal, she really needs some company of her own.

I need a friend!

Her substitute for a friend appears to be chasing the dogs, chickens and ducks when she is let loose. Of course, this winds up the dogs who are happy to play. I must admit that I do laugh when some of our more recent puppies grab hold of her rope and pull it as Maali walks back towards her enclosure to see if any food has been left for her by the chickens.

Character building

She is a real character and quite determined in what she wants to do.

Sometimes it takes a bit of encouragement to get her to do what you want. It’s as if she is a petulant child!

In the morning, Maali sometimes decides that she wants to be taken to a different part of the estate to graze. She stops dead and refuses to move!

It takes some effort to get her on her way again. Fortunately years playing rugby in the front row means that I have technique that can even move a bast of this tonnage. A tug of war ensues and after a while Maali realises that she is on the move.
I am trying to lose a bit of weight and perhaps in the future Maali will win this battle. But for now it’s an unexpected addition to my strength exercises when she decides to be stubborn!

The reaction from our guests.

Maali features in our Instagram, YouTube and Facebook photos and videos every so often. Many of our guests know about Maali before they come and are keen to meet her. We had two Indian Lawyers stay with us and as soon as they got out of the car they were looking for Maali. Several of our guests grew up in the country or on a family farm and like that there is cow on the estate. I guess that it brings back memories and is a comforting feeling.

We nearly lost her - twice!

Over the past ten months we have learned that we can’t allow Maali to roam free. Evidence of this is that we used to have a nice border of flowers and plants on the border of the lawn. Maali decided that this was a delicious buffet and therefore we no longer have beautiful flowers at the edge of the lawn!

We now tend to tie her in one area in the mornings so she can work on one particular area of grass and plants. Later on, once she is quite full, we release her to roam around the land (watching that she doesn’t eat any more flowers!).

One day my wife an I were in Colombo picking up some supplies for GlenMyu Estate and we received a phone call from a neighbour asking whether our cow was at the estate. We were confident that she was but decided to check with one of the staff.

He was confident as well …..until he had a look at the area he thought she was. Of course, she wasn’t there and had escaped.

Fortunately she was returned to us by our neighbour.

How did she escape my Dear Watson?

We have fencing around GlenMyu Estate so we were perplexed on how Maali had escaped. It turned out that the gate that the staff use was left open and Maali found her escape!

Now the staff ensure that the gate is closed!

The second time was more scary

Maali started developing lumps on her skin and started losing weight. A home visit by the vet diagnosed the problem as “Lump Skin Disease”. The vet gave her an injection and told us that there was not medicine in Sri Lanka to treat the problem. However there was hope that may get through this and survive, but no guarantee.

We were extremely worried. A search on the internet didn’t help (which can often happen).

Fortunately we have some good friends that suggested that we try to treat Maali with a herbal remedy and they gave us the recipe to the potion.

Maali didn’t look great for several days and her appetite was low. Her favourite foods of Jackfruit and Bananas were of little or no interest. She was mainly kept indoors during this period as it was a colder and wetter part of the year and we needed to keep her warm. We continued with the medication over a few weeks and we were delighted to see that Maali started to want to eat again.

My wife and I had an important trip back to the UK when Maali was recovering and we were still unsure that she would make it. Daily updates were provided by Ruwanthi’s mother or the staff. She was continuing to make progress with the medication and the food that we brought in for her.

Whilst we were away she had been showing that she wanted to go outside and start grazing again.

We returned to Sri Lanka in the later part of October and we were really pleased to see that Maali had put on a fair bit of weight. She had some open wounds, as a result of the disease which were continuously being treated

Relief

A few days after we returned Maali was let out to graze for part of the day. She has put on weight and really looks so good compared to when we left for the UK.

Her character is coming back and she is now harassing the dogs again. Maali has not fully recovered however we have confidence that she will be back to her old self soon

Ready to meet guests again.

Maali is now accepting guests. Our most recent visitors have two delightful daughters who helped Ruwanthi feed Maali some bananas as soon as they got out of the car.

Being the petulant child, she of course didn’t eat them and I have no doubt that they will be saved for later for an evening snack without onlookers!

Visit GlenMyu Estate and meet Maali and her friends.

GlenMyu Estate is a boutique hotel located in five acres of the Sri Lankan countryside. We only have three bedrooms for guests and we are within an hours drive of many superb tourist sites. The tallest and second tallest Waterfalls in Sri Lanka are less than an hour away. Ella, the busy tourist town, is just over an hours drive and great for a day trip to see Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Rock, Ravana Falls and more. Our guests love to visit Horton Plains National Park and see the Tea gardens from Lipton’s Seat.

Where does the money go!

Your stay helps us pay for the maintenance of the estate, care for the animals and provide much needed employment for local people.

We are listed on booking.com and Airbnb where you can see our reviews and what our guests think of GlenMyu Estate.

For direct booking rates please contact us directly by pressing the WhatsApp button on our website.

The cow – a year on (almost) Read More »

One of the rescue dogs at GlenMyu Estate and Hotel, Haputale, Sri Lanka.

How did seven become ten?

Animals that live at our visit GlenMyu Estate., Our Animals at GlenMyu Estate / By Mikeez

How did seven become ten?

I often wonder how did seven become ten?

My maximum was seven, and even that was too much.

With only two pairs of hands, I couldn’t even close with the attention that the seven required and demanded.

I was almost in tears when I realised that the additional three were not moving on and they were here to stay.

So, how did we get to ten?

My anguish was as a result of the increase in the number of rescue dogs from seven up to ten.

Numbers up, down and then up

We really didn’t plan to have any dogs.

When we started the construction at GlenMyu Estate we stayed with a neighbours bed and breakfast around a kilometre from the land.

During that time we got our contractor to build a one bedroom unit at the entrance to the land. This property was going to turn into staff or drivers accommodation.

Our neighbour had several dogs and we got to know them as we stayed there several times. They were friendly and happy to see us.

Here’s your dog!

The neighbour decided that we needed a dog for our property (no consultation needed in Sri Lanka of course). All of a sudden Sudhu was a resident at our neighbours. Sudhu was a white coloured puppy and was lots of fun. Lots of dogs in Sri Lanka are called Sudhu, which means white. Basic, but it does the job!

The construction of our one bed unit took longer than we planned and Sudhu had made her home at our neighbours. It would have been cruel to have taken her away from her home so she stayed. We visited every so often and she made a big fuss of us each time we saw her.

You can read our article about our initial experience with our dogs “Our Rescue Dogs – making GlenMyu Estate a special place”.

The story of the seven

We had got to a number of seven dogs and at that time I said we could not have any more at GlenMyu Estate. The estate is five acres in size and could accommodate more dogs, but I felt I could not commit the time and love to any more. When you only have two hands and you have three, four, five, six or seven dogs looking for attention, the equation doesn’t work.

Our dogs at that time were:

Clove – our first dog

Roti – Clove’s son

Kahlu and Donie

Patch and Biscuit – Kahlu and Donies’ off-spring.

Fleur – the fluffy one.

Clove – our first dog.

Roti – Clove’s son

Kahlu – Superdaddy

Donie The supermum

Patch – a chip of the block.

Biscuit – Patch’s crazy sister

Fleur – the fluffy one.

They didn’t quite live in harmony, like many families, and squabbled from time to time. However, they were mainly harmonious and got used to meeting guests. Fleur was particularly affectionate and was able to win our guests hearts very quickly.

I managed to share my time with them throughout the day. In the morning I would be bombarded by four or five of them who were excited to see me. Kahlu wanted to be brushed and petted all day and would have insisted if I had the time. Biscuit was the one that waited to find me on my own later in the day so she could have me all to herself.

Fleurs’ birthday gift to me.

Unfortunately, Fleur went missing on my birthday the year before last. We were heartbroken and sent out search parties for him. I drove for miles looking for him just in case he got lost. We printed leaflets and posted them where we could. Social media posts were created and we searched the internet for him. We had several false alarms and drove to places where he was sighted. It turns out that. Although we thought the Fleur was unique, there are lots of doubles of him.

We don’t know whether he met with an accident or was picked up by someone. He may have gotten lost and not found his way back home. We prayed that he was alive and being taken care of by someone who would love him as much as we do.

When we drive anywhere we are still looking for Fleur and hope that we can find him.

At the end of the day, we had to face the fact, we now had six dogs.

Here comes Mo Mo.

A smelly, dirty, starving dog with no hair attempted several time to come into the property. The dog was chased away again and again by the resident pack. We were made aware of the dog by our staff and some food was placed outside the gate for it to eat.

It was raining and this poor creature tried again to enter the property for some shelter and was chased by our dogs. Ru decided to take the poor thing into our old cow barn and give it some shelter and some food. It was bathed and you could see she was in so much pain as she had severe mange which left her with very little hair. She was installed into a box with a blanket and slept for days occasionally coming out for one sustenance. A mange cream was bought and applied and we tried to make her more comfortable.

An antibacterial solution was also applied which painted the skin and remaining hair a mauve colour. One of our guests, who helped treating her, suggested that we call her Mauve. Unfortunately Mauve sounds too much like Clove which was too confusing. So the name was changed to Mo Mo.

No medicine available

Unfortunately, at that time, Sri Lanka was suffering from an economic crisis and we could not find any more mange cream to continue to treat the dog. We reached out to vets and animal shelters however they were all in the same predicament.

Ru searched online and made up a herbal medication from what we could find that was growing on the estate. Unsure whether this would be effective we were concerned that Mo Mo would make it.

The herbal remedy worked for a while and Mo Mo deteriorated again. We were able to take her to the vet for examination as we finally had enough fuel for the car. Injections were given and various other treatments.

We were delighted that the treatment made the difference and the pain subsided and Mo Mo’s hair started to grow back again.

Mo Mo was here to stay - so we were seven again.

Clearly, it was unlikely that someone would take on a sick dog that needed treatment so we accepted that Mo Mo was here to stay.

Ah, poor Kahlu

Our hearts were broken again when Kahlu went missing.

When we first got to know Kahlu he was quite aggressive and clearly the dominant male in the pack. He was a fighter (particularly when female dogs were in heat) and would come back to the estate with all kinds of wounds which Ru treated.

After getting permission from his original owner, we arranged to get Kahlu neutered.

The affect of this was amazing. Kahlu changed from a scary dominant male into a pussy cat. He was so cuddly and just wanted petting all the time. There were no more fights and he really became a home dog just making a daily trip to visit his previous owner.

Kahlu still had an appetite and always was around for his breakfast or dinner.

One day he didn’t turn up.

We waited and then looked for him. I drove around to see whether he had met with an accident. We asked our neighbours whether they has caught sight of him. Several days passed and we still had hope that Kahlu would return. I missed him a lot.

His fate finally revealed.

A few weeks later we were in a bank in Haputale and one of our neighbours told us that Kahlu had died. He had eaten some poison left at a trap and succumbed. He had found him and another dog who had met the same fate some days after they had died and he buried them both.

I was quite upset for several days but, unlike Fleurs’s fate, we knew how Kahlu had died. At least there was some finality.

Now we were back down to six

How on earth did you manage to get up to ten?

In the middle of the night we had a break in. Not a burglar, but a little black stray dog. It managed to enter our dog house (which is abandoned by our dogs in the warmer weather).

In the morning there was a big fuss around the dog house with this little puppy barking at the older dogs that had now seen the intruder. She held her ground and wouldn’t let any of the other dogs in!

Like all the other strays, we fed, cleaned and gave the puppy medicine to make her stronger before she could be re-homed. A visit to the vet revealed that she was anaemic and needed treatment. Injections and medicine was given and we knew that this would be a long road.

And now for the name!

At the time we had a French Moroccan guest staying called Lamaiaa. She spent a little time with this puppy and requested that she be named after her. As her name didn’t sound phonetically like the other dogs the name was given.

The requirement for ongoing treatment to get Lamaiaa healthy meant that this was another dog that could not be re-homed. So, we were up to seven dogs again.

And that was going to be the last

We had some guests stay with us a GlenMyu Estate who came across three abandoned puppies on their travels. After some messages going back and forth to ensure that they were abandoned we agreed for them to bring them to us. Later that day there was quite a downpour and they were stuck in a drain. Perhaps if we hadn’t said we would take them in they would not have survived.

At this stage we were happy to take in a few puppies because we had always been successful in finding them new homes.

The puppies were cute, needing worming and a good bath. They had a little skin infection and a few days later we took them to the vet for treatment.

They were attractive enough that we thought that when they were strong enough and had their vaccinations that there would be a queue of people wanting them.

The landscape had changed.

Unfortunately we were wrong in our assumption.

It turned our that the financial crisis meant that there were a glut of puppies that were in need of new homes. We advertised on social media however, unfortunately, there were no genuine takers.

One neighbour did take one of the puppies, but it found its’ way back to the estate later that day. We had no chance of re-homing these puppies unless they were relocated far from GlenMyu Estate.

I could have cried!

Ten dogs! Really!

How would we manage? Where would they stay? Would they integrate with the existing pack?

It took may several days to come to accept that we now had seven dogs. I’m still not happy with the situation but there was no point dwelling on the matter.

The final ten.

So, this is how seven became ten!

I am adamant that we will now not be taking in any more puppies under any circumstances. More puppies are for Ruwanthi’s next project which will be an animal sanctuary. At the moment it is just a dream for her. However, GlenMyu Estate was also a dream and she successfully achieved her goal.

The puppies are now around eight months old, have been spayed (no more puppies!) and have made GlenMyu Estate their home.

They are puppies, so they are naughty, have eaten too many shoes and annoy the other dogs from time to time. It will take some more months before they are fully part of the team.

Of course, they are cute. They are also characters and have provided me with some content for my YouTube dog channel. The guests love them, but who doesn’t love a cute puppy.

Lipton

Sunny

Bobbi

The final line up!

Our contingent now comprises of the following:

Clove – our first dog

Roti – Clove’s son

Donie

Patch and Biscuit – Donies’ off-spring.

Mo Mo (formally mauve in colour)

Lamaiaa – still a little bit crazy

Lipton, Sunny and Bobbi – the three sisters from Lipton’s Seat

If I say the names fast, it doesn’t sound too bad.

Support our work with rescue dogs by staying at GlenMyu Estate.

The money you pay for a fabulous stay at GlenMyu Estate helps support the work we do with rescue dogs. Food, shelter, medicine, annual vaccinations and sundries are partly covered by staying at the hotel. Your money also supports several local workers, local suppliers, the maintenance and development of the estate and our other animals. Did I mention we have around twenty ducks, twenty chickens and a rescue cow called Maali!

Find out more about a stay at GlenMyu Estate by visiting our website.

You will also find us on Booking,com and Airbnb

Read our reviews to find out about the guest experience at GlenMyu Estate on Booking,com, Airbnb, Google and Tripadvisor.

We look forward to meeting you and introducing you to all the dogs.

There will be a test on whether you can remember all the names!

How did seven become ten? Read More »

A holiday for Animal Lovers

Holiday, Our Animals at GlenMyu Estate, Our dogs / By Mikeez

A holiday for animal lovers.

When we initially opened GlenMyu Estate Hotel, in the Sri Lankan Hill Country, we were concerned that having dogs would be detrimental to the business. What we have found though is that there are animal lovers from all parts of Sri Lanka and the World

The animals that we have at GlenMyu Estate have really added to the guest experience. We have been amazed that one of the reasons that guests have chosen us is because we have our rescue dogs.

All vaccinated and loved.

All of our dogs are vaccinated and are also used to greeting new guests on a regular basis. Sometimes I feel sorry for the dogs (and guests) because I can see how quickly a relationship and friendship is developed, only to be broken when the guests leave to discover more parts of this paradise island.

So you thought that you didn't like dogs?

We have had a few guests come that are not too keen on dogs. However, I don’t know how the dogs manage it, but they are able to forge a relationship really quickly. We recently had a family stay and the mother didn’t want the attention from the dogs unlike the rest of her family. A few hours later she was cuddling one of our abandoned puppies and didn’t want to let her go!

There was also a Sri Lankan family comprising of Mum, Dad and three delightful daughters. The girls were pinned close to their mother when the alighted the car and were met by several excited dogs. Within an hour they were playing with the dogs and there were tears in the morning when the left as the youngest wanted to take one home with them!

The house with the seven dogs.

Early on we had a French family living in Colombo stay at GlenMyu Estate. The parents and their two young daughters really loved their time here and picked out their own favourite dogs.

On their second visit their mother told us that we were known as “the house with the seven dogs” and that they had remembered all their names!

We often have puppies at GlenMyu Estate.

Over the few years we have been at GlenMyu Estate we have had puppies from time to time.

As spaying a neutering dogs in Sri Lanka is not the norm there are lots of unwanted puppies that turn up throughout the year.

Sri Lankans are animal lovers however we do wish that a sterilisation programme was enacted by the government to control the population.

We have lots of tourists arrive and comment on the number and poor condition of the street dogs that they have seen around the island.

There are charities and organisations that do their best to help, treat and care for the street dogs. However, the challenge is huge and overwhelming. We just do our best to care for these animals at GlenMyu Estate. After providing them with them with a good start in life with a good diet, additional vitamins and the relevant vaccinations we try to re-home them with loving families.

Were you always animal lovers?

Both Ru and I had been around dogs and animals all of our lives through each of our parents who had dogs, cats and so on. However, we had never had the full responsibility of the animals ourselves. Living in London in a small apartment, working long hours and travelling meant that it was not feasible to have a pet. We were so busy that it was not even a consideration.

Living in Sri Lanka has reconnected us with animals.

Ru’s dream was always to have an organic farm up in the mountains with her own animals. I suppose that the original intention was to have farm animals that we functional on a farm. However, the focus has changed since we have been in Sri Lanka and the main driver is being animal lovers providing a good safe environment rather than seeing their role as part of farming.

A holiday for animal lovers?

There is so much to enjoy about a stay in the Sri Lankan Hill Country at GlenMyu Estate. Sri Lanka’s Hill country offers lots of wonderful places to see and visit. Ella Town is around one hours drive and lots of our guests visit Nine Arch Bridge, climb Ella Rock and Little Adam’s Peak. They also visit Ravana Waterfall and Ravana’s Cave.

Hiking at then UNESCO Heritage site of Horton Plains National Park and seeing the spectacular views at Lesser World’s End, Greater World’s End and the beautiful Baker’s Falls is a favourite.

Upper Diyaluma Waterfall is a relatively new discovery for us and as it is only a 40 minute drive it is now one of the most popular day trips. A visit to Lipton’s Seat and seeing how tea is processed at Dambetenne Tea Factory is also a great experience.

After exploring the area coming back to the five acre estate and being welcomed by the dogs adds to your holiday memories.

GlenMyu Estate has more than street dogs to provide interest for animal lovers.

We also have a rescue cow called Maali. She has been a resident at the estate since December 2022 and adds to the landscape. Maali provides us with manure for our organic garden and grass around the estate. She is interested to meet new guests and give them a sniff and perhaps even a lick with her coarse tongue!

You will see lots of ducks wandering around the estate foraging for food and then bathing in the streams that run through the land. They are a perfect way to lose some hours watching them go about their daily lives. We find them very relaxing (apart from when they are mating!) and it is our form of meditation.

Our chickens and roosters also wander around the estate looking for tasty things to eat. We do keep them in an enclosure for part of the day to protect them from predators such as the mongoose and eagles.

Meet some of our animals.

Here are some of our dogs that will be happy to meet you!

Our ducks provide a relaxing experience at the estate.

And Maali may also welcome you

Other visitors to the estate.

Apart from the animals that we care for at GlenMyu Estate there are lots of visitors, some you will see and some are hidden. Occasionally you may see a Barking Deer in the distance eating leaves and fresh grass. You are unlikely to see a porcupine or Wild Boar as they tend to come in the middle of the night, however you may see the damage that they do to our crops.

There are a variety of birds that visit the estate daily and seasonally. We have a bird book to help you identify what you see whilst you are here.

We also have lots of squirrels and occasionally a beautiful Giant Squirrel eating our Jackfruits on the tree.

GlenMyu Estate Hotel - a holiday for animal lovers.

To find out more about a holiday in the Sri Lankan Hill Country please visit our website and contact us via the WhatsApp button to inquire about direct booking rates.

We are also listed on Airbnb and Booking.com.

You can also see videos of the animals that visit the estate on our social media channels.

If you are particularly interested in the dogs we have a separate YouTube Channel.

Read our guest reviews

Please read how our other guests have found their stay at GlenMyu Estate on Google, TripAdvisor, Booking.com and Airbnb.

A holiday for Animal Lovers Read More »

Our Cow and a dog. Wandering around GlenMyu Estate. Inspires my though for the day

Rescue Dogs of GlenMyu Estate

Our Animals at GlenMyu Estate, Our dogs / By Mikeez

Rescue Dogs of GlenMyu Estate

Since we moved to the Sri Lankan Hill Country we have adopted many rescue dogs at GlenMyu Estate. Some have been kept on the 5 acre estate, some have been re-homed and unfortunately we expect to have to continue to do this work.

We try to give these orphans a good start in life by providing them with nutritious food, added vitamins & minerals and the necessary vaccinations to protect them against diseases.

It was not part of our plan and we did not really expect to have dogs on the estate. We thought that it might deter some people from booking a stay with us in the Hill Country.

A few people have booked and cancelled when they find out that we have dogs – which is fine with us. We would not want anyone to feel uncomfortable staying here at GlenMyu Estate.

We have however, been surprised that, often the dogs are the star of the show. Our welcome message includes a small commentary about the dogs and we have had lots of people really excited about meeting them.

As it is a little dangerous interacting with dogs in Sri Lanka due to the risk of rabies, guests are delighted that they are able to pet the animals at GlenMyu Estate. They know that the dogs are all vaccinated and there will be no issues.

Also, our dogs are so used to meeting new guests sometimes they are quite blasé about the situation. We find that when the vehicle carrying our guest arrive they just want to have a sniff and then they get on with their daily lives. If however, guests make a fuss of them, they know that the guests are dog lovers and that they will get plenty of attention when they are here.

We didn’t plan to have dogs however Clove was delivered to us and we have never looked back. You can read about Clove’s story on the following BlogPost.

Donie is the mother of Patch and Biscuit

Here is Donie with Patch and Fleur in the background.

Patch is Donie’s son and was born at GlenMyu Estate.

Donie (and Kahlu) were owned by the caretaker to the construction company who built the main structure and roadway into GlenMyu Estate. The contractors were here for about one and a half years and both Donie (and Kahlu) were supposed to go with their owner onto the next site.

Donie had a litter whilst living at GlenMyu Estate and her son and daughter, Patch and Biscuit, survived.

We decided that we would keep Patch and Biscuit as we brought them up on the estate and it was their home.

The caretaker was happy for Donie to stay and Kahlu was to go with the contractors to the next construction site…..however….(read about Kahlu’s story here).

Patch and Biscuit - brother and sister!

Patch and Biscuit have different colourings however, they certainly act like brother and sister.

Like most siblings, sometimes they get on well together and sometimes they don’t. Patch acts like a guardian to both Donie and Biscuit and will run and protect them if there is any disturbance.

However, Patch has a large appetite (being the boy!) and he will try to take food off Donie or Biscuit once he has gobbled up his breakfast or lunch. Motherly Donie is happy to share her food but Biscuit will snarl at him warning him to keep away.

Donie is a great mother and she still, after almost 4 years, cleans Patch’s eyes and ears almost on a daily basis. Sometimes Patch looks a little embarrassed when this happens, however we have also seen him offer his ears and eyes to his mother to clean!

Clove and Roti

We made a mistake!
Being new to having dogs were foolishly missed the time when Clove was on heat and were not able to stop her mating (with half the neighbourhood!)

Oh No! Puppies!

We have realised that when you give a puppy a really good start in life, giving them a wholesome diet supplemented by vitamins and minerals, that they will be very healthy. In turn this appears to have made Clove very productive when it came to having her first litter. Fro our discussions with neighbours they would expect a litter of perhaps three, four or five.

Can you imagine our horror when Clove had her litter and produced nine puppies over a very long night.

Unfortunately two of the puppies did not survive the next day and we were left with seven healthy and hungry little ones.

Support or work with the rescue dogs by staying at GlenMyu Estate

I think of GlenMyu Estate as more of a social enterprise than a “proper” business. By opening the house and grounds to paying guests we certainly benefit by being able to live in a nice environment whilst meeting really interesting people.

By holidaying at GlenMyu Estate you also support the staff that we have by effectively contributing to their wages so that they can support their families.

You also are providing money so that we can support the work we do with rescue dogs, providing them with a good start in life prior to being rehoused into loving homes,

We have lost count of the number of abandoned puppies that we have taken in that have been dropped close to our gate or brought to us by our staff.

At the Estate we have decided that we can only have a maximum of seven dogs. This is still too many however we got to seven and decided that must be the limit. The puppies that we take in are given a good healthy start and then we make sure that they go to good, loving homes.

We ensure that the puppies get all the relevant vaccinations and also have committed to pay for neutering and spaying in the future if the owner wants to go down that route and doesn’t have the funds to meet the costs.

In conjunction with a local vet we have also supported the funding of sterilisation of dogs owned by poor villagers who cannot afford to pay the vet bills.

We support these costs due to, as you will see from your travels around this Paradise Island, that there are too many street dogs that are in really poor conditions. By reducing the number of litters. Most females can have litters two or three times a year. Even if a mother has three puppies twice a year the number of dogs increases by six, so you can understand the problem if there is no control.

If you want to find out more about a stay at GlenMyu Estate please click on the following link to our website.

You can also see some videos on our YouTube Channel for the dogs on the following link.