YALA NATIONAL PARK

Hambantota

Yala National Park is located in the south eastern area of Sri Lanka. It is extended over two provinces of Hambantota district of southern province and Monaragala district in Uva province. The entrance to the National park is at Palatupana, 12km from Kirinda. The distance from Colombo to the entry point of Palatupana is 305 km and the entrance to Yala National Park is Tissamaharama town.The park provides jeeps for visitors, which gives the opportunity to view wild life and it is known as Safari tours. The best times are dawn and dusk  for Safari tours in the Yala National Park.Yala is the second largest national park in Sri Lanka. It consists of five blocks is the most visited spreads over an area of 1260 square kilometers. The mean annual temperature is 27 Celsius , the temperature could go as high as 37 Celsius in the dry season.

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Animals in Yala National Park

Yala was selected as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900. The park is best known for its variety of wild animals. It is important for the conservation of Sri Lankan elephants, aquatic birds and Sri Lankan leopards .

Mammals

44 species of mammals are occupant in Yala National Park with including Sri Lankan elephant. It has one of the highest leopard densities in the world. The elephant herd of Yala contains 300–350 individuals of elephants. Sri Lankan leopard, Sri Lankan sloth bear, Sri Lankan elephant and wild water buffalo are threatened species in this national park. Toque Macaque, Red Slender Loris, Golden Palm Civet, Fishing Cat, Feral, Domestic Stock are among the other mammals that can be seen in Yala.

Birds

Yala National Park is one of the 70 Important Bird Areas in Sri Lanka and there are 215 bird species of the park and six are endemic to Sri Lanka. Crimson-fronted barbet, Sri Lanka junglefowl , Sri Lanka grey hornbill, Sri Lanka wood pigeon,  black-capped bulbul and brown-capped babbler are endemic to Sri Lanka.

Reptiles

The reptile fauna recorded from the park is 46 and five of them are endemic. Sri Lankan flying snake, Sri Lankan krait, Boulenger’s keelback, painted-lip lizard and Wiegmann’s agama are the endemic species.

Amphibians

There are 18 Amphibians species that have been recorded from Yala while Adenomus kelaartii and Bufo atukoralei  are endemic to Sri Lanka.

Invertebrates

A variety of butterfly species, crabs and prawns are found here. The common bluebottle, common lime butterfly, crimson rose, common Jezebel, and common Mormon are the common species.

Fishes

21 fresh water fishes are found in the water reservoirs of Yala National Park. The Esomus thermoicos and stone sucker are endemic among other species. The blackspot barb, olive barb, orange chromide and common spiny loach are the common fish species.

YouTube video – Yala National Park

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