Kumana National Park

 

Localization

Southeast Sri Lanka

Access

Easy, via Yala National Park

Characteristic

181,5 km²; Flat lowland area along the Benghal Bay coast. Typical ecosystems: dry bushy forest, very important marshlands (freshwater, mixed even saline), mangroves, coastal biotopes. The most valuable part of the national park - "Kumana Villu" - about 200 ha natural marshy lagoon irrigated by the narrow water canal. Very important locality for the high concentration of water and migratory birds.

Fauna + Flora

Mammals:

Primates - Old World Monkeys (Cercopithecidae): Toque Macaque; Grey Langur

Pholidota - Pangolins (Manidae): Indian Pangolin

Lagomorphs - Rabbits and Hears (Leporidae): Indian Hare

Rodents - Squirrels (Sciuridae): Sri Lankan Giant Squirrel; Indian Palm Squirrel

Carnivores - Mustelidae: Eurasian River Otter

- Bears (Ursidae): Sloth Bear

- Dogs (Canidae): Golden Jackal

- Mongoose (Herpestidae): Indian Grey Mongoose; Ruddy Mongoose; Striped-necked Mongoose

- Cats (Felidae): Fishing Cat; Leopard

Elephants - Elephants (Elephantidae): Asian Elephant (strong population)

Even-toed ungulates - Pigs (Suidae): Wild Boar

- Deers (Cervidae): Axis Deer; Sambar Deer

- Cows, Buffaloes (Bovidae): Water Buffalo

Birds:

140 bird species

Pelecaniformes - Anhingas (Anhingidae): Oriental Darter

- Cormorants and Shags (Phalacrocoarcidae): Greater Cormorant; Indian Cormorant

- Pelicans (Pelecanidae): Spot-billed Pelican

Ciconiiformes - Herons, Egrets and Bitterns (Ardeidae): Black Bittern; Cattle Egret; Great Egret; Little Egret; Black-crowned Night-Heron; Indian Pond-Heron

- Storks (Ciconiidae): Lesser Adjutant; Asian Openbill; Black-necked Stork; Painted Stork;

- Ibises and Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae): Black-headed Ibis; White Ibis; Eurasian Spoonbill

Phoenicopteriformes - Flamingos (Phoenicopteridae): Lesser Flamingo

Anseriformes - Gees, Swans and Ducks (Anatidae): Garganey; Lesser Whistling-Duck

Birds of Prey - Hawks, Eagles, Buzzards, Kites and Old World Vultures (Accipitridae): Besra; Black Eagle; Grey-headed Fish-Eagle; White-bellied Fish-Eagle; Changeable Hawk-Eagle; Oriental Honey-buzzard; Black-shouldered Kite; Brahmine Kite; Crested Serpent-Eagle

Galliformes - Partridges, Pheasants and Quails (Phasianidae): Ceylon Junglefowl; Indian Peafowl

Gruiformes - Buttonquails and Hemipodes (Turnicidae): Barred Buttonquail

- Rails, Crakes, Coots and Gallinules (Rallidae): Purple Gallinule; White-breasted Waterhen

Charadriiformes - Jacanas (Jacanidae): Pheasant-tailed Jacana

- Avocets (Recurvirostridae): Black-winged Stilt

- Wading Birds (Scolopacidae): Redshank; Spotted Redshank; Common Sandpiper; Curlew Sandpiper; Green Sandpiper; Marsh Sandpiper; Wood Sandpiper; Pintail Snipe; Little Stint; Temminck´s Stint; Ruddy Turnstone

- Plovers (Charadriidae): Red-wattled Lapwing; Yellow-wattled Lapwing

- Thick-knees, Dikkops and Stone Curlews (Burhinidae): Stone Curlew; Great Thick-knee

- Gulls (Laridae): Brown-headed Gull

- Terns (Sternidae): Caspian Tern; Gull-billed Tern; Little Tern; Whiskered Tern

Columbiformes - Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae): Emerald Dove; Spotted Dove; Orange-breasted Green-Pigeon; Pompadur Green-Pigeon; Green Imperial-Pigeon; Rufous Turtle Dove

Psittaciformes - Parrots (Psittacidae): Alexandrine Parakeet; Rose-ringed Parakeet

Strigiformes - Owls (Strigidae): Brown Fish Owl; Jungle Owlet

Cuculiformes - Cuckoos, Anis, Coucals and Roadrunners (Cuculidae): Greater Coucal; Chestnut-winged Cuckoo; Drongo Cuckoo; Pied Cuckoo; Plaintive Cuckoo; Asian Koel; Blue-faced Malkoha; Sirkeer Malkoha

Goatsuckers - Nightjars (Caprimulgidae): Indian Nightjar; Jerdon´s Nightjar

Apodiformes - Swifts (Apodidae): Indian Swiftlet

- Crested or Tree Swifts (Hemiprocnidae): Crested Treeswift

Coraciiformes - Kingfishers (Alcedinidae): Common Kingfisher; Pied Kingfisher; White-throated Kingfisher

- Bee-eaters (Meropidae): Blue-tailed Bee-eater; Little Green Bee-eater

- Hoopoes (Upupidae): Eurasian Hoopoe

- Hornbills (Bucerotidae): Ceylon Grey-Hornbill; Malabar Pied-Hornbill

Piciformes - Barbets (Capitonidae): Brown-headed Barbet; Coppersmith Barbet

- Woodpeckers, Wrynecks and Piculets (Picidae): Black-rumped Flameback; Greater Flameback; Yellow-crowned Woodpecker

Perching Birds - Pittas (Pittidae): Indian Pitta

- Larks (Alaudidae): Rufous-winged Lark; Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark

- Swallows and Martins (Hirundinidae): Barn Swallow; Red-rumped Swallow

- Crows and Jays (Corvidae): House Crow; Large-billed Crow

- Shrikes (Laniidae): Brown Shrike

- Helmet Shrikes (Prionopidae): Common Wood Shrike

- Drongos (Dicruridae): Black Drongo; White-bellied Drongo

- Trushes and Chats (Turdidae): Oriental Magpie-Robin; Black-backed Robin; White-rumped Shama; Orange-headed Trush; Spot-winged Trush

- Fantails (Rhipiduridae): White-browed Fantail

- Starlings (Sturnidae): Ceylon Myna; Common Myna; Brahminy Starling; Rose-coloured Starling

- Wagtails and Pipits (Motacillidae): Paddyfield Pipit; Forest Wagtail; Grey Wagtail; Yellow Wagtail

- Cuckoo Shrikes and Minivets (Campephagidae): Black-headed Cuckooshrike; Small Minivet; Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike

- Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae): Red-vented Bulbul; White-browed Bulbul

- Leafbirds (Chloropseidae): Golden-fronted Leafbird

- Ioras (Aegithinidae): Common Iora

- Nuthatches (Sittidae): Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

- Sunbirds (Nectariniidae): Long-billed Sunbird; Purple Sunbird; Purple-rumped Sunbird

- Flowerpeckers (Dicaeidae): Pale-billed Flowerpecker

- White-eyes (Zosteropidae): Oriental White-eye

- Babblers (Timaliidae): Brown-capped Babbler; Oriental Yellow-eyed Babbler; Yellow-billed Babbler

- Paradise Flycatchers (Monarchidae): Blue Monarch; Asian Paradise-Flycatcher

- Old World Warblers (Sylviidae): Plain Prinia; Blyth´s Reed Warbler; Common Tailorbird; Fan-tailed Warbler

- Old World Orioles (Oriolidae): Black-hooded Oriole

- Waxbills, Mannikins, Munias and allied (Estrildidae): Black-headed Munia; Scaly-breasted Munia; White-rumped Munia

- Sparrows (Passeridae): House Sparrow

- Weavers (Ploceidae): Baya Weaver

Reptiles:

Lizards and Snakes - Monitors (Varanidae): Bengal Monitor; Common Water Monitor

- Elapidae: Indian Cobra

- Vipers (Viperidae): Russell´s Viper

Chelonia - Bataguridae: Indian Black Turtle

- Soft-shelled Turtles  (Trionychidae): Indian Soft-shelled Turtle

Crocodilia - Corocdiles (Crocodylidae): Estuarine Crocodile; Marsh Crocodile

Fish:

Perch-likes - Cichlids (Cichlidae): Oreochromis sp.

- Mullets (Mugilidae):  Mullet (Mugil spp.)

- Snakeheads (Channidae): Shakehead (Channa spp.)

 

Plants:

Dicotyledons:

Nymphaeales - Nymphaeaceae: Waterlily (Nymphaea pubescens) - marshlands

Fabales - Fabaceae: Garden Puff (Neptunia oleracea) - marshlands

Proteales - Nelumbonaceae:  Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) - marshlands

Myrtales - Onagraceae:  Primrose-willow (Ludwigia spp.) - marshlands

- Sonneratiaceae: Sonneratia caseolaris (dominant tree)

- Combretaceae: Tropical Almond (Terminalia arjuna) - dominant mangrove

Monocotyledons:

Alismatales - Aponogetonaceae: Aponogeton spp. - marshlands

Poales - Cattails (Typhaceae):  Narrow-leaf Cat-tail (Typha angustifolia) - marshlands

Possible activities

Excellent conditions for birdwatching

Jeep safari riding through the park

Note

Yala - East is a synonym for this park

Best time to visit V-VI (birdwatching)

Rock paintings and signs from 1st century B.C. in caves

Picture - source srilanka.com