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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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