NATIONAL PARKS IN SRI LANKA

National Parks in Sri Lanka: 13 % of Sri Lanka's landmass is protected as national parks. The most important parks are:

* Bundala National Park (between Hambantota and Kataragama)
* Gal Oya National Park (north of Yala)
* Horton Plains National Park (in the southwestern mountains)
* Lahugala National Park (west of Pottuvil)
* Uda Walawe National Park (near Hambantota)
* Udawattakele Wildlife Sanctuary (northeast of Kandy)
* Peak Wilderness Man and Biosphere Reserve (at Adam's Peak)
* Lion King (Sinharaja) Tropical Rain Forest (between Ratnapura and Matara) (World Heritage Site)
* Wilpattu National Park (northeast area of Sri Lanka)
* Wirawila Bird Sanctuary (near Tissamaharama)
* Ruhuna Yala National Park (near Tissamaharama)
* Kumana Bird Sanctuary (part of Yala) once acclaimed by Readers Digest as the best nesting and

breeding environment in the world

* Minneriya National Park (near Polonnaruwa)
* Kaudulla National Park (near Polonnaruwa)
* Wasgomuwa National Park (near Polonnaruwa)


Sinhalese heritage of wildlife protection
Sri Lanka's heritage of wildlife protection runs as far back as 2200 years. The first wildlife (fauna & flora) sanctuary in world at Mihintale, Anuradhapura was created by the King Devanam Piya Tissa (name means dear to god) (307-266 BC), following the arrival of Buddhism to the island from northern India. Throughout the history of the nation, all animals & plants in the sanctuaries of the island were left undisturbed in line of the basic right to life of all beings & conservation ethics of Buddhism, the taking of life being anathema to Buddhist beliefs. Records of the wildlife protection are found even in the great Sinhalese chronicle of Mahawamsa.

Wild life protection today
For a country with one of the highest population densities in the world (304 people per square miles), the island is also remarkable in that 13% of its land area is designated for wildlife & nature conservation. Today's system of parks & reserves is mostly a synthesis of traditionally protected areas & those established by the British colonial rulers. By the time, British got rid of their blood sport called "game" (meaning blasting the mammals & birds to the death) & the Buddhist conservation ethics were codified, thousands of elephants along with other mammals had already been slaughtered in the island of Ceylon. Major Thomas William Rogers (Rogers the Elephant Slayer) Today, we have 16 national parks protected by the government, divided into 4 types.

Strict natural reserves
These are exclusively reserved for wildlife. Entry permits are issued only to those engaged in official or scientific work. Even in such instances, permits can be obtained only from the Director of Wildlife Conservation himself. Ritigala Strict Nature Reserve, Strict Natural Reserve of Yala East (Kumana), Hakagala Strict Natural Reserve

National parks
Ruhunu (Yala) national park, Udawalwe national park, Wilpattu national park, Wasgomuwa national park, Flood Plains national park, Minneriya national park, Maduru Oya national park, Gal Oya national park, Horton Plains national park, Bundala national park, Somawatiya Chaitiya national park, Yala East national park, Lahugala Kithulana national park, Lunugamvehera national park, Kaudulla national park & Horagolla national park.

Nature reserves
Nature reserves are primarily for wildlife. Human activity in these reserves is restricted. Lion King (Sinharaja) Tropical Rain Forest is one of the many nature reserves of the island.

Sanctuaries
Some of the 50 sanctuaries are located in private lands. Though wildlife is well protected, limited human activity within the sanctuaries are allowed in so as wildlife is respected. Bellanwila Attidiya Sanctuary, Udawattekele Bird Sanctuary in Kandy, Muturajawela Marshes (Colombo Wetlands).


Famous Birds and Animals

Deer
Spotted deer (Axis axis ceylonensis), Barking deer (Munctiacus muntjak malabaricus), Sambhur (Cervus unicolor unicolor), Mouse deer (Tragulus meminna).

Monkeys
Grey langur (Presbytis entellus thersites), Toque monkey (Macaca sinica sinica), Purple-faced leaf monkey (Pithecus uetulus montticola).

Reptiles
Swamp crocodile (Crocodylus palustris kimbula), Estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus menikanna), Iguana (Varanus bengalensis)

Large mammals
Elephant (Elephas maximus), Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis bubalis), Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca), Sloth bear (Melarsus ursinus inoratus), Wild boar (Sus scrofa cristatus)

Others
Ceylon jackal (Tanis aureus lanka), Fishing cat (Felis viverrina), Civet cat (Viverricula indica mayori), Grey mongoose (Herpestes edwadsi lanka), Ruddy mongoose (Herpestes smithi zeylannius), Stripe-necked mongoose (Herpestes vitticollis vitticollis), Giant squirrel (Ratufa macroura dandolena), Porcupine (Hystrix indica indica), Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata)

Birds
Peacocks, painted stork, many varieties of heron, spoonbill, bee-eater, parrots & parakeets, hornbill, kingfisher, woodpecker and many more.