An Unforgettable Encounter with Wild Wonders in Sri Lanka's Wilpattu National Park

An Unforgettable Encounter with Wild Wonders in Sri Lanka's Wilpattu National Park

Sprawled across an area of nearly 131, 693 hectares in the lowland dry zones of the island, just 30km from the ancient citadels of Anuradhapura lies the nature park whose name denotes the 60 natural lakes that litter its landscapes. Renowned worldwide as one of Sri Lanka's most expansive and oldest national parks the Wilpattu National Park is perhaps best known for its impressive leopard population. Elevated at a varying altitude of 0-152m above sea level, this idyllic wildlife sanctuary 26km from northern Puttalam is also one of the island's premier eco-tourism destinations attracting many a visitor to its lush forest terrains throughout the year.

Designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1905, the Wilpattu National Park was declared a national park in the late 1930's. The main topographical attribute of the park is of course its vast collection of natural lakes that have been formed on flat basin like apertures in the ground with rain water. Known as Villu, these lakes are surrounded by deep forests to the west of the park while the entire landscape features low shrubs and salt grass with monsoon forest conditions in the innermost quarters of the park. Plant species including the likes of Ebony (Disopyros ebenum), Milla (Vitex altissima), and Wewarna (Alseodaphne semecapriflolia) also line the parkland in addition to Weera (Drypetes sepiaria), Palu (Manilkara hexandra) and Satin (Chloroxylon swietenia) flora varieties.

Home to over 31 mammal species, endangered animal varieties are also found within the enclave. Commonly spotted mammals at Wilpattu include sloth bears, water buffalos, leopards and elephants that are also among the threatened species that inhabit the sanctuary. Wetland bird varieties include whistling teals, pin tails, garganeys and large white egrets. Purple herons, cattle egrets, spoonbills and white ibises are also frequently spotted in the national park which also attracts bird watching enthusiasts from across the globe.

Reptile species that roam Wilpattu National Park include Indian pythons, monitors, common cobras and rat snakes while sunbathing mugger crocodiles are also a common sight. Soft shelled turtles and pond turtles are also permanent residents near the park's large lakes while star tortoises are typically found meandering among the grasslands.

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