Location: North Western, North Central Provinces Map
Area: 131,667 ha
Wilpattu National Park is a national park located on the southern coast of the historic city of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka, a country in the Indian Ocean. Interspersed with many areas of cultural importance, the park was declared a National Park in 1938. 188 km from Colombo. m. 30 km south of Anuradhapuram in distance. The park is located at a distance of 26 km north from Putalat. The park is a haven for migratory birds due to its abundance of dry forests and the abundant rain water that accumulates in naturally formed sand pits. About sixty natural lakes ('Villu') are unique to this park. Spread over 1,317,693 sq km (1,31,693 ha), (0-152 m above sea level), Wilpattu National Park is one of the oldest and largest national parks in Sri Lanka. The dense forests in the southern part of the park are home to many wild animals. In a survey conducted by Sri Lanka's Wildlife Conservation Committee from July to October 2015 using remote-controlled cameras, 49 tigers were photographed from Wilpattu National Park. 73% of the park area is rich in forests and shrubs. The rest of the national park appears to be open areas. Soils in humid tropical evergreen forests are copper in color. It is bordered by the Aru River to the south and the Kalai Oya River to the north.
Wilpattu National Park has a dry climate. The abundant source of water there helps the vegetation to stay green throughout the year. Average rainfall is 900 mm. Temperature ranges from 27 °C - 30 °C. The main source of rainfall is the northeast monsoon (September – February). The park experiences dry weather from July to September.
Wilpattu National Park has a variety of plants,
coastal grasses, tall trees found in monsoon forests, Vitex altissima,
Manilkara hexandra, Chloroxylon swietenia, Drypetes sepiaria and
Alseodaphne semecarpifolia. 51 species of mammals, rats, squirrels,
agouti, porcupine, beaver, wildebeest, crocodile, Mugler crocodile,
cobra, Indian cobra (Naja naja) Chera, python and tortoise are also
found. Elephant (Elephas maximus maximus), honey bear (Melursus ursinus
inornatus), tiger (Panthera parduskotiya), hippopotamus (Bubalus
bubalis), Mlaw (Rusa unicolor unicolor), kiri etc. are the specialty of
this park.
The birds found in the wetlands such as vari eranda,
walan eranda, chulan eranda, American white ibis, wind egret, chayamundi
and different species of gulls, owls, eagles, vultures etc. can be found
roaming in this park. Batrachostomus moniliger, Perdicula asiatica
vidali, Perdicula argoondah salimalii, Peacock (Pavo cristatus),
Dendrocopos nanus, Pandan woodpecker (Chrysocolaptes festivus),
Panangkaka (Coracias benghalensis indica) , Alcedo meninting coltarti,
Eudynamys scolopaceus, Surniculus lugubris dicruroids, Blue-eyed
green-billed (Phaenicophaeus viridirostris), Parrot (Loriculus vernalis
vernalis), Big tit (Psittacula eupatria), Apus affinis, Caprimulgus
indicus), rachaungan (Caprimulgus atripennis), champan nath (Glaucidium
radiatum), chetty kuruvi (Prinia sylvatica) and many other birds are
found in the dense tropical forests of Wilpattu National Park.
Rare species of butterflies such as giant butterfly (Hypolimnas bolina),
black butterfly (Papilio polymnestor), Poonkanni (Mycalesis_patnia),
naturos (Pachliopta aristolaochiae) and sugar butterfly (Pachilopta
hector) can be found in the garden.
The best time to visit Wilpattu National Park is from February to October. Visitors can visit the park throughout the year[3]. Tourists can enjoy exploring the park on a jeep safari.