Wilpattu National Park

Localization

North West Sri Lanka, 30 km west of Anuradhapura

Access

Easy

Characteristic

1908 km²; Flat to slightly rolled area of coastal lowlands (highest point 152 m above sea level). Semi-arid part of Sri Lanka. Unique phenomenon of this park: system of about 60 natural ponds with sandy banks. Rain water is the only source of the ponds´ water. Most of ponds are temporary water tanks, only a few are permanent ones. Typical ecosystems: dry bushy forest, salines, marshlands - periodically flooded plains, sea coast biotopes.

Fauna + Flora

Mammals:

31 mammals species

Carnivores - Mustelidae: Eurasian River Otter

- Bears (Ursidae): Sloth Bear

- Cats (Felidae): Fishing Cat; Leopard

Elephants - Elephants (Elephantidae): Asian Elephant

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

- Deers (Cervidae): Axis Deer; Sambar Deer

- Cows, Buffaloes (Bovidae): Water Buffalo

Birds:

Pelecaniformes - Cormorants and Shags (Phalacrocoarcidae): Little Cormorant

- Pelicans (Pelecanidae): Spot-billed Pelican

Ciconiiformes - Herons, Egrets and Bitterns (Ardeidae): Cattle Egret; Intermediate Egret; Little Egret; Great White Egret; Grey Heron; Purple Heron; Indian Pond-Heron

- Storks (Ciconiidae): Lesser Adjutant; Asian Openbill; Pained Stork

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

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

Birds of Prey - Hawks, Eagles, Buzzards, Kites and Old World Vultures (Accipitridae): White-bellied Fish-Eagle; Changeable Hawk-Eagle; Crested Serpent-Eagle

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

Gruiformes - Rails, Crakes, Coots and Gallinules (Rallidae): White-breasted Waterhen

Charadriiformes - Jacanas (Jacanidae): Pheasant-tailed Jacana

- Plovers (Charadriidae): Red-wattled Lapwing

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

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

Columbiformes - Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae): Spotted Dove; Green Imperial-Pigeon

Psittaciformes - Parrots (Psittacidae): Rose-ringed Parakeet

Cuculiformes - Cuckoos, Anis, Coucals and Roadrunners (Cuculidae): Greater Coucal; Asian Koel

Goatsuckers - Nightjars (Caprimulgidae): Large-tailed Nightjar

Apodiformes - Swifts (Apodidae): Indian Swiftlet

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

- Bee-eaters (Meropidae): Blue-tailed Bee-eater

- Hornbills (Bucerotidae): Malabar Pied-Hornbill

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

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

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

- Shrikes (Laniidae): Brown Shrike

- Drongos (Dicruridae): Great Racket-tailed Drongo; White-bellied Drongo

- Trushes and Chats (Turdidae): Oriental Magpie-Robin; Black-backed Robin

- Starlings (Sturnidae): Common Myna

- Wagtails and Pipits (Motacillidae): Grey Wagtail

- Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae): Red-vented Bulbul

- Ioras (Aegithinidae): Common Iora

- Sunbirds (Nectariniidae): Purple-rumped Sunbird

- Babblers (Timaliidae): Yellow-billed Babbler

- Paradise Flycatchers (Monarchidae): Asian Paradise-Flycatcher

- Old World Warblers (Sylviidae): Common Tailorbird

- Waxbills, Mannikins, Munias and allied (Estrildidae): Scaly-breasted Munia

Reptiles:

Lizards and Snakes - Monitors (Varanidae): Bengal Monitor

- Boas, Pythons (Boidae): Indian Python

- Colubrids (Colubridae): Ptyas mucosa; Xenochrophis asperrimus

- Elapidae: Indian Cobra

Chelonia - Tortoises (Testudinidae): Indian Starred Tortoise (Geochelone elegans)

- Bataguridae: Indian Black Turtle (Melanochelys trijuga)

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

Crocodilia - Corocdiles (Crocodylidae):Marsh Crocodile

Amphibians:

Frogs - Toads (Bufonidae): Atukorale´s Dwarf Toad (Bufo atukoralei)

Fish:

Cypriniformes - Minnows and Carps (Cyprinidae): Fire-fin Barb (Puntius ticto); Horadandia atukorali

Plants:

Dicotyledons:

Laurales - Lauraceae: Alseodaphne semecapriflolia

Nymphaeales - Nymphaeaceae: Waterlilies Nymphaea nouchali and N. pubescens

Fabales - Fabaceae: Indian Jointvetch (Aeschynomene indica); Pongame Oiltree (Pongamia pinnata)

Malpighiales - Euphorbiaceae: Drypetes sepiaria

Sapindales - Flindersiaceae: Ceylon Satinwood (Chloroxylon swietenia)

Proteales - Nelumbonaceae: Sacred Lotus (Nelumba nucifera)

Myrtales - Onagraceae: Primrose-willows Ludwigia adscendens and L. hyssopifolia

- Combretaceae: Tropical Almond (Terminalia arjuna)

Ericales - Ebenaceae: Ebony Diospyros ebenum and D. malabarica

- Sapotaceae: Manilkara hexandra

Lamiales - Verbenaceae: Chastetrees Vitex altissima and V. leucoxylon

Monocotyledons:

Alismatales - Aponogetonaceae: Aponogeton crispus and A. natans

Poales - Cyperaceae: Bulrushes Schoenoplectus articulatus, Scirpus articulatus and S. supinus; Spikerush Eleocharis congesta; Canada Spikesedge (Eleocharis caribaea)

Possible activities

Birdwatching and nature observation

Jeep safari riding

Note

Walking tourism is not allowed

Best time to visit  II and X

Many archaeological finding places

This national park was closed for a long time because of security reasons. It was re-opened in 2003, but still not very often visited.