 Sri
Lanka has a rich and exotic variety of wildlife and a long tradition
of conservation rooted in its 2,230 year old Buddhist civilization.
The following are the most important sanctuaries in terms of attractions,
accessibility and availability of facilities.
Animal
Sanctuaries
The
animals to be seen in Sri Lanka's national parks include elephant,
leopard, sloth bear, sambhur, deer and monkeys, wild buffalo, wild
boar (pig), porcupine, ant-eater, civet cat, jackal, mongoose, loris
(unique to sri Lanka) several varieties of lizards, squirrels, reptiles
and amphibians. Each park however has its own specialties.
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Yala
(Ruhuna) National Park 
Situated
309 km. south of Colombo, Yala is approximately 1,259
sq.km. in extent and is located in the southeastern
corner of the island. Its northern boundaries border
on the Lahugala Elephant Sanctuary and it has the added
bonus of a scenic ocean frontage. The terrain is varied
flat plains alternating with rocky outcrops. The vegetation
ranges from open parkland to dense jungle. Water holes,
small lakes, lagoons and streams provide water for the
animals and birds. The specialty here is the large numbers
of elephants. |
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Wilpattu
National Park 
Situated
176 km. north of Colombo, Wilpattu is approximately 1,908 sq.km.
in extent. It has a dense jungle cover which makes it a more exciting
park where animals have to be tracked. There are numerous delightful
little lakes - known as villus - and the leopard and sloth bear
are the specialty rather than elephants.
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Maduru
Oya National Park 
The Maduru Oya National Park is located in the Dry Zone
and is 300 k.m. away from Colombo and 58,849 hectares
in extent. A wide variety of wildlife including some
endemic birds species and reptiles are found here. Maduru
Oya is rich in ancient ruins found in different places
and its southern parts provide veddhas, indigenous people
their living environment. Endemic purple monkey is among
the important animal species that can be seen in addition
to Sambhur, a member of the cat family etc. There is
some endemic avifauna also found within this Park.
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 Gal
Oya National Park
Situated at Inginiyagala, the Gal Oya National Park
is 314 km. from Colombo and is most renowned for its elephant population
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Bundala
National Park 
Bundala
National Park is the latest addition to the National
Parks and is situated 260 km. away from Colombo. All
species of waterbirds resident in the country and the
migrant birds inhabit this Park. |
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Horton
Plains National Park 
The Horton Plains National Park is the only National
Park situated in the Hill Country and falls within the Nuwara Eliya
district and is 200 km. away from Colombo. Panoramic scenic beauty
of the Hill Country could be witnessed within the Park. The famous
`Worlds End' is a major attraction within the Park. Endemic slender
loris and endemic purple monkey are among the important animal species
that could be seen in addition to sambhur, a member of the cat family
etc. There is some endemic avifauna also found within this Park.
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Uda
Walawe National Park 
Situated 170 km. South East of Colombo the Uda Walawe
National Park is approximately 30,821 hectares in extent.
This Park which lies within the Ratnapura and Monaragala
Districts acts as the catchment to the Uda Walawe Reservoir
and is located in the Dry Zone.
This Park comprises grasslands and thorn scrubs and
many valuable species of trees are found within it.
Large herds of Elephants and Deer species such as spotted
Deer, Sambhur, Barking deer and Langur, Wild Boar, Water
Buffalo, Jackal are some of the prominent wild animals
found in this Park and a variety of avifauna is seen.
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Wasgamuwa
National Park 
Situated approximately 200 km. away from Colombo, the Wasgamuwa
National Park lies within the Polonnaruwa and Matale Districts and
have the Mahaweli river and Amban river as its eastern and western
boundaries. Tropical intermediate dry mixed evergreen forest predominates
its environment.
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