National Parks & Zoo
Bundala National Park - Hambantota
බූන්දල ජාතික වනෝද්යානය
பண்டல தேசிய பூங்கா
Hambantota » Bundala බූන්දල ජාතික වනෝද්යානය
In the Hambantota District, Southern Province of the Island, a national park named Bundala is located. The park is in the Tissamaharam road, Hambantota which is nearly 248km far from the capital city, Colombo.At start the national park area was declared as a wildlife sanctuary and then later in 1993 it was declared as a National park. The park declared as the 4th Biosphere reserve of Sri Lanka by UNESCO in 2005 and in 1991 selected as the first Ramsar wetland site in Sri Lanka. Because of the existence of dry zone climate, the park is filled with flora and fauna very well. It was recorded in a survey as that, more than 380 species of flora and 320 species of fauna are available in the Bundala national park. The park is governed by the Department of wildlife conservation and they consider some conservation measures such as maintaining the water quality, maintaining the habitat for the flora & fauna.As the park is internationally famous, tourists from all around are more common here.
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Colombo Dehiwala zoo
දෙහිවල සත්වෝද්යානය
தெஹிவளை மிருகக்காட்சிசாலை
Government's Place Colombo » Dehiwala දෙහිවල සත්වෝද්යානය
Dehiwala zoo is considered as the National zoological garden of Sri Lanka and opened for the public in 1936. Dehiwala is a very busy city of Colombo and the National zoo is located there, as easy as access by public transport service. The zoo covers an area of ten hectares to display its collection.John Hagenbeck who owned a zoological garden is known as the founder of National zoological garden of Sri Lanka. After the abolishment of his zoological garden due to the World War 2, the Sri Lankan government used his zoology collection to display in the Dehiwala National zoo. From1960s to 1980s, the zoo underwent many developments such as infrastructure improvements, import new species from local and foreign and conducting programmes. Over 3000 animals including mammals, birds, fishes, amphibians, butterflies and marine invertebrates are displayed here in their respective sections. During the past years the existing collection of animals increased with the help of many foreign species conservation centres. The zoo consists of water ponds and plants to provide the natural environment to the zoology collections. Tourists from all over the world arrive to enjoy the garden. But educational institutes like schools from all over the island visit the zoo with their students for their educational purpose. The animal performances are the highlight in the Dehiwala National zoo. The visitors can enjoy the pony ride, elephant ride and boat ride also. Restaurants, snacks shop and souvenir shops also available within the premises of zoology garden. One of the oldest zoological gardens in Asia, the Dehiwala zoo is a good tourist spot of Sri Lanka and influences the annual income of the nation well.
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Minneriya National Park
මින්නේරිය ජාතික උද්යානය
மின்னேரியா சரணாலயம்
Polonnaruwa » Minneriya මින්නේරිය ජාතික උද්යානය
In the North central province of the Island and near the city of Polannaruwa , the Minneriya wildlife National park is located. Minneriya National park is a rich eco wildlife sanctuary within the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka. The ancient Minneriya Tank which was built by King Mahesan is also located somewhat near the park. As the park is situated in the dry zone, the historically important Minneriya tank plays a good role in providing water for the living ones around the area.In early days the area was well known as wildlife sanctuary and in 1997 August 12th it was declared as National Park. Now the park is under the department of wildlife conservation. Park is decorated with flora and fauna naturally. The park is well known for Elephant gathering. More than 150 elephants gather around the Minneriya tank to feed them in some days. Many endangered and endemic species are found in the park. Mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, grasses and plants are scattered in number of species. Spreading of weeds and pests, destruction to trees and plants are notified as natural and manmade threats to the Minneriya Park. Bird watchers and nature lovers are more interested in visiting the Minneriya Park. The visitors are advised not to harm the wildlife and make sure their safe to avoid hard experience while admiring the National Park.The tourists have to rent a vehicle to explore the venue because there is no accommodation and other facilities within the Park. But the near cities such as Sigirya, Polannaruwa provide enough facilities with good accommodation too.
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Pinnawala Open-Air Zoo
පින්නවල එළිමහන් සත්වෝද්යානය
பின்னவல மிருக காட்சியகம்
Kegalle » Pinnawala පින්නවල එළිමහන් සත්වෝද්යානය
A developing village in Kegalle District and which is nearly 110km from the capital city Colombo is known to be as Pinnawala. The open air national zoological garden was opened on 2015 April 17th at Pinnawala. Pinnawala open air zoo is the first open air zoo in Sri Lanka and the second national zoo, next to Dehiwala zoo. The zoo covers an area nearly about 44 acres, without disturbing the natural environment beauty. The first thought for this zoo was came during the period of former President, Chandika and the arrangements terminated in two more years. Then again in 2002 to 2008 it’s started and stopped. Finally from 2010 the arrangements were hurried to open the zoo. In the opening ceremony of the zoo the spokes man said that this is the fifth time they succeeded opening the open air zoo.The zoo welcomes tourist from all over. After the opening on Pinnawala zoo, the Pinnawela elephant orphanage, the famous attraction spot of Kegalle for many years was defeated by the number of visiting tourists from local and foreign. The zoo consists of two major divisions such as Sri Lankan and World. The Sri Lankan section includes many native animals such as deer, Sri Lankan leopard, crocodiles, species of monkeys, birds, turtles and many other endangered species. As the same the World section holds non native animals. The open air maintains an International standard to treat the tourists well. You can find dining and relaxing venues around the zoological garden. Pinnawala open zoo is a new famous tourist spot of Sri Lanka where the one can feel the international standard too.
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Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
පින්නවල අලි අනාථාගාරය
பின்னவேல யானை காப்பகம்
Kegalle » Pinnawala පින්නවල අලි අනාථාගාරය
In the Kegalle District, Pinnawala Elephant orphanage is situated. The road that guide to orphanage is about 2 kilometers on the main Kandy road from kegalle town. Pinnawala Elephant orphanage was started in 1975 there are baby and adult elephants in the orphanage. There are all set free elephants. When Elephants come to their villages, farmers shoot at they. Sometimes fire brands are throw away to elephants to scare them away. Some elephants fall into wells, pits and water holes. When they are thirsty come in search of water in the dry season. Some injured or sick elephants fall on the way. They cannot get up because of hungry of food, pain in body and thirst for water. Such elephants are save from hazards and brought them to the Pinnawala orphanage.
Every day morning the elephants walk in a line for bathing into the Maha Oya. The way of walking is like school children going one by one in line for the morning assembly. They love to stay in the water and bath for a long time. They look like big rocks under water, when they lie down in water. The brush, scrub and rub their bodies with coconut husks. The playful little ones spray water on each other elephants. The baby elephants under one year old are the infants. Those elephants between 1 year and 5 years old are calves. The cows are female adults and the bulls are male adults, they known like this words. Baby elephants drinks 5 liters of milk everyday at a time. Baby elephants are bottle fed five times a day. The adults eat jack leaves , coconut leaves, and kitul trunks They dance well. In the evening time people watch elephants dance show every day. . You can spend hours and hours watching them and enjoy their movements.
Kumana National Park Hambantota
කුමන ජාතික අභය භුමිය
குமண தேசிய பூங்கா
Hambantota » Hambantota කුමන ජාතික අභය භුමිය
Kumana is a bird sanctuary. This sanctuary is located on the eastern border of Yala national park. Kumana National Park covers an area of about 18,149 hectares of lands. Kumana was before known as Yala East National Park, but changed to its current name in 5 September 2006. The park was reopened in March 2003 after it was closed since 1985 due to civil war in Sri Lanka. Various 20 lagoons and tanks maintain the extensive birdlife of the national park. The lagoons are shallow with depths less than 2 metres. Here from time to time indigenous and migrant birds often visit. This sanctuary is considered as a paradise for the bird watchers. Both domestic and foreign tourist visit here to enjoy watching birds. In these regions we can hear the noises which seem to be an invitation to the bird watchers. These migrant birds leave our country by the end of March. Of these the ducks are first to go. They fly is arrow head formation. It is a spectacular sight. Sri Lanka report more than 430 bird variety comprising endemic, resident and migrant birds. Of these, the bird watchers are able to observe over 200 species easily. The wide variety of birds found in the numerous wildlife parks of Sri Lanka create the tropical island a prime bird watching destination in the world. Apart from being abound with the birdlife, Kumana is also residence to some of the mammals found in the adjacent Yala National Park such as Elephants, Leopards, Golden Jackal, Wild Boar, European Otter as well as the endangered Fishing Cat.
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Yala National Park for animals kingdom
යාල අභය භුමිය
யால தேசிய பூங்கா
Hambantota » Hambantota යාල අභය භුමිය
Sri lanka is famous for its birds and animals too. The migrant birds flock here in search of sunshine when it is winter in their home country. There is so much to see in this small and beautiful country that a large number of tourists visit the island every year. Thanks to god for he has given this beautiful paradise for us to live.Yala national park is situated in the hambantota district bordering the Indian Ocean . The second largest national park in Sri Lanka. It is about 1369sq kilometers in extent. It is about 19 kilometers of sea coast covers unspoiled natural beaches. The climate of yala national park is usually hot and dry. It receives north east monsoon rains from November to January and inter monsoonal rains also in March and April. Menik ganga provides water to yala national park. There are tanks and natural water holes. There are extensive grasslands surrounding the tanks and water holes. The Yala park is primarily shrub jungle with rocky out crops that dot the park, along with several slatand fresh water lagoons. Many kinds of animals are living there. There are elephants, leopards, many species of deer, the sambur the hogdeer and grey moneys. Reptiles also live there. There are crocodiles and beautiful tortoises also. Yala national park is full of wild and hard flowers. There are large number of tourists visited these places before the Tsunami. Yala national park is a beautiful place in Sri Lanka. Yala national park has been center stage to many BBC and discovery channel documentaries.
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Sinharaja rainforest
සිංහරාජ වැසි වනාන්තරය
சிங்கராஜா வனம்
Ratnapura » Sinharajah සිංහරාජ වැසි වනාන්තරය
There is a heaven in Sri Lanka where green gods live. It is Sinharaja the green diamond.The Sinharaja forest is the only undisturbed rainforest left in Sri Lanka. It is the first world heritage forest in Sri Lanka. It is about 9000 hectares in extent. It spreads from Kalutota to Adweltota in Ratnapura District. This forest region with a high degree of bio diversity. Thus the notice at the entrance to Sinharaja tells the visitor.This forest meets some needs of the man. Researchers often visit here and study about the wild life. The forest at its lowest is 270 meters above the sea level. Its highest point is 1060 meters. Sinharaja has 9 hills of which the tallest is Hinipitigala, it’s peak is 1170 meters high. In 1840 Sinharaja became a crown property. In 1988 this was made a national wilderness area. In 1989 UNESCO included the Sinharaja forest in the world heritage list as the first national heritage of Sri Lanka.
It is the place of meditation, contemplation, relaxation and scientific exploration. The forest is steeped in legend and mystery. The word Sinharaja means lion king and the legend story tells that Sinhala people in Sri Lanka appeared with the union of the lion king, who once lived in the forest and a princess.
Many streams start from the high ground of the Sinharaja and fall into bigger rivers. There is a small water fall called Duhuvilli Ella. Perhaps it is after the dust like spray of the water fall. The rainfall in the area is high throughout the year. It makes the waterways rush and gush adding beauty to the land.
Forest has mothered tress, creepers and streams. Many of the plants are rare. Ferns and mosses grow well as the climate is humid because of heavy rainfall. The average height of trees in the Sinharaja varies between 35 to 40 meters. Some trees are above 50 metres. It has been home to the elephant, leopard, deer and sambhur. There are large mammals as well as small ones living there. The purple faced monkeys can be observed easily. They move about in groups. There are herbivores, carnivores as well as omnivores. It has given protection to the birds, the bees and butterflies. All these years it has remained just as nature created it. So we must conserve this valuable forest.
Today the Sinharaja is faced with many problems. There are foot paths in the forest created by the people in the boundary villages. People who go looking for fruits, firewood and bees honey have all left their foot prints. The foot prints are helpful to the visitors too. However there are some who come to destroy the beautiful jungle. Most of the rare birds and animals are smuggled. Many endemic plants too are lost in the same manner. Visitors are welcome as long as they go in. Leave nothing behind and take nothing except the wonderful memories of Sinharaja.