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Situated 309 km. south of Colombo, one of the s best
known wildlife reserves approximately an area of 1300
square km (500 square miles). It is divided into Yala
West and Yala East. In this national Park there is diversity
of jungle habitats like , tanks, brackish lagoons and
riverside habitats. Yala is popular as the best park
for viewing animals and birds. Animals include the elephant,
leopard, sloth bear, spotted deer, barking deer, mouse
deer, sambhur, grey langur, toque monkey, stripe-necked
mongoose, ruddy mongoose, wild pig, jackal, water monitor,
marsh crocodile and estuarine crocodile.
128 species of birds have been recorded. Bird life includes
Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl, Brown-capped Babbler, Stone Curlew,
Greater Thick-knee, Black-necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant,
Painted Stork, Sirkeer Malkoha, Blue-faced Malkoha,
Green Bee-eater, Pompadour Green Pigeon, Blue-faced
Malkoha, Green Bee-eater Orange-breasted Green Pigeon,
Malabar Pied Hornbill, Brahminya Myna and Rose-coloured
Starling.
Bundala
National Park
Bundala
National park is situated 260 Km from Colombo. Bundala
consists of scrub jungle along the east coast of Hambanthota
. This beach is an important breeding site of turtles.
This park is a home of elephants, spotted deer, grey langur,
jackal, water monitor, crocodiles, the olive ridley and
leatherback turtles, the hawksbill and green turtles.
Among the 150 species of birds found here are the Flamingo,
Brown-capped Babbler, Ceylon Junglefowl, Cattle Egret,
Median Egret, Large Egret, Openbill, Spoonbill, Glossy
Ibis, Black-winged Stilt, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, etc.
Migrants include Asiatic Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lesser
Sand, Large Sand Plover, Kentish Plover, Marsh Sandpiper,
Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, etc
Wasgamuwa National Park
This
National Park situated in the districts of Matale and
Polonnaruwa. Mahaweli river and Amban river covers its
eastern and western boundaries. The vegetation consists
of primary forests, secondary forests, and riverine forests,
scrublands and grasslands. Common animals are elephants,
wild buffaloes, spotted deer, leopards, sloth bears, water
monitors and crocodiles.
145 species of bird can be found here, including the Red
Faced Malkoha, Ceylon Jungle Fowl, Lesser Adjutant, Yellow
Fronted Barbet, Ceylon Spur Fowl and Ceylon Frogmouth.
8 species of amphibians are reported to live in this park.
These include the endangered skink, lizards like the Red
Lipped Lizard and Earless Lizard. In addition, 17 species
of fish and 50 species of butterflies are found here.
Horton Plains
The Horton Plains is a plateau more than 200 m high. It
consists of grasslands interspersed with areas of forest
and some unusual vegetation that grows only in high altitudes.
From here rise Sri Lanka's second and third highest mountains.
The plains afford a excellent track for nature lovers..
The most attractive feature of the Horton Plains is the
World's End where the southern part of the plains comes
to a sudden end and drops almost straight down for 700
m. Dawn is the ideal time to view this site. The mountains
are free of mist and the sun is just rising.
The dense forests are home to deer, jackal, the shaggy
bear-monkey, sambhur and the occasional leopard. Purple
monkey.
The plains are popular with bird watchers. Birds include
Ceylon Junglefowl, Ceylon Wood Pigeon, Orange-billed Babbler,
Ceylon Blue Magpie, Ceylon Hill Munia, Dusky-blue Flycatcher,
Pied Bush-Chat, Grey Tit and Ceylon Whistling Thrush.
Udawalawe
National Park
This park covers 30,818 hectares mainly consists of abandoned
teak plantations, grassland and scrub jungle. acts as
the catchments to the Uda Walawe Reservoir and is located
in the Dry Zone. Generally popular for elephants. Other
animals are spotted deer, sambhur, water buffaloes, mongoose,
bandicoots, foxes, water monitor lizards, crocodiles,
wild boars, Toque Monkeys, Grey Langur, leopards and 30
varieties of snakes.
Bird life includes Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl, Sri Lanka Grey
Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Wooly-necked Stork, Black-headed
Ibis, Black-shouldered Kite, White-bellied Sea Eagle,
Crested Serpent Eagle, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Shikrs,
Sirkeer Malkoha, Blue-faced Malkoha.
Minneriya National Park
The
extent of the Minneriya National Park is about 8890 hectares.
There are wet lands in this National Park. Which have
International importance, animals and plant species, which
are plenty in dry zone are found in this park. Wild elephants,
various amphibians , local and immigrant bird species
are plenty here. About 160 species of birds , 09 amphibians,
25 reptile species, 26 fish species and more than 75 butterfly
species have been found here. There are bamboo trees which
are rare in other parks and wild elephants can been seen
conveniently. The significant feature is that elephants
can be seen going close to them. |
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