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.
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Animal Sanctuaries
The
animals to be seen in Sri Lanka's national parks include elephant, leopard,
sloth bear, sandbur, 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 water birds 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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