Yala National Park in Sri Lanka

Yala National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. The park consists of five blocks, two of which are now open to the public, and also adjoining parks. The blocks have individual names such as, Ruhuna National Park(block 1) and Kumana National Park or 'Yala East' for the adjoining area. It is situated in the southeast region of the country, and lies in Southern Province and Uva Province. The park covers 979 square kilometres (378 sq mi) and is located about 300 kilometres (190 mi) from Colombo. Yala was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, and, along with Wilpattu was one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka, having been designated in 1938. The park is best known for its variety of wild animals. It is important for the conservation of Sri Lankan elephants, Sri Lankan leopards and aquatic birds.

History

Henry Engelbrecht

In 1560 Spanish cartographer Cipriano Sanchez noted Yala in his map "is abandoned for 300 years due to insalubrious conditions.Chief Justice Sir Alexander Johnston wrote a detailed account on Yala in 1806 after travelling from Trincomalee toHambantota. On March 23, 1900 the government proclaimed Yala and Wilpattu reserves under the Forest Ordinance. Initially the extent of the reserve was 389 square kilometres (150 sq mi) between the Menik and Kumbukkan Rivers. At that time the reserve did not bear the name Yala. The Game Protection Society (now the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society) was instrumental in establishing the reserve. The forest area between Palatupana and Yala was declared a hunting site reserved only for the resident sportsmen.Henry Engelbrecht was appointed as the first park park warden.On 1 March 1938, Yala became a national park when the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance was passed into law by D. S. Senanayake, the minister of agriculture. The park consists of five blocks. Subsequently four other blocks were incorporated to the park. There are six national parks and three wildlife sanctuaries in the vicinity of Yala.Kumana National Park, Yala Strict Nature Reserve and Kataragama, Katagamuwa, and Nimalawa sanctuaries are continuous with the park.

Yala Safari Camp

The best way to explore Yala national park is staying inside a tented safari camp site within the park. Where you will have a definite advantage in during the game drive and avoid the rush at the gate in the morning. Furthermore there are few experiences to match the thrill of waking up in your own private camp, with not a soul for miles around you other than your caretakers, in one of the most sensational wildlife parks in Sri Lanka. Yala Safari holidays organize tailor-made camping safaris in designated sensational locations in Yala national parks. This unique style of safari allows for a level of adventure that is simply not catered for by a traditional jeep-safari from the gate. We give you the chance to come along and explore the wildlife of Udawalawe & Yala whilst maintaining a high level of security and back-up on the ground.

Yala wildlife National park paths run through a spectrum of terrains from dense to scrub jungle, open savannah type to semi-arid areas, rock pools, ravines and fresh water lakes strewn with more than one prominent rocky outcrops, a snaking coastline where the wildlife behaves in an unconcerned and truly wild way and has ceased to take alarm and flee at the sight of humans but by no means docile, with over one hundred and fifty square miles of territory, traversing in Yala without a wildlife department guide is prohibited. The Asian elephant, leopard, black-bear along with crocodiles are the most common sights while peacocks, hornbills and the gray languor monkeys' keeps you company along the route with their ceaseless cries, the buffalo, another unsung denizen of Yala can be unpredictable, easily riled and extremely dangerous with their sharp horns, are quite common in Yala. Yala east or better known as Kumana is a bird watchers paradise with rarities like Ceylon shamas, paradise flycatchers, red-faced malkoha, great thick-knee, and not so rare peacocks adorning the paths during dawn & dusk.

There are many hotels around the park. You can book any kind of hotel as your wish. Also you can hire safari jeeps at the all entrances,it is cheaper than you thought, there many activities, Rural Village Walks,Cycling in Rural Villages,Lake Fishing, Canoeing,Jeep Excursions.

Fauna

Birds

An large black and white white bird in a grassy field

The great stone-curlew (great thick-knee) is a waterbird found in the park

Yala is one of the 70 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Sri Lanka. 215 bird species of the park, six are endemic to Sri Lanka.They are Sri Lanka grey hornbill, Sri Lanka junglefowl, Sri Lanka wood pigeon, crimson-fronted barbet, black-capped bulbul, and brown-capped babbler. The number of waterbirds inhabiting wetlands of Yala is 90 and half of them are migrants.Waterfowl (lesser whistling duck, garganey), cormorants (little cormorant, Indian cormorant), large waterbirds (grey heron, black-headed ibis, Eurasian spoonbill, Asian openbill, painted stork), medium-sized waders Tringa spp., and small waders Charadrius spp. are among the common waterbirds. Black-necked stork and lesser adjutant are the rare birds that can be seen in the park. The migrant great white pelican and resident spot-billed pelican are also have been recorded. Other waterbirds attracted to the Yala lagoons include lesser flamingo, and pelicans, and rare species such as purple heron, night herons, egrets, purple swamphen, and Oriental darter. Thousands of waterfowls migrate to the lagoons of Yala during the northeast monsoon. They are northern pintail, white-winged tern, Eurasian curlew, whimbrel, godwits, and ruddy turnstone. The visiting species mingled with residing lesser whistling duck, yellow-wattled lapwing, red-wattled lapwing, and great stone-curlew. Rock pigeon, barred buttonquail, Indian peafowl, black stork, black-winged stilt, and greater flamingo are among the other bird species. Crested serpent eagle and white-bellied sea eagle are the raptors of the park. The forest birds are orange-breasted green pigeon, hornbills, Old World flycatchers, Asian paradise-flycatcher, Asian barbets, and orioles.

Mammals

Streams in the park can sustain a large herd of Sri Lankan elephants.

Yala has the highest leopard concentration in the world.

Including Sri Lankan elephant, 44 species of mammals are resident in Yala National Park,and it has one of the highest leopard densities in the world.25 individual leopards are estimated to roam in Block I.The elephant herd of Yala contains 300–350 individuals.Sri Lankan sloth bear, Sri Lankan leopard, Sri Lankan elephant, wild water buffalo are threatened species that Yala is harbouring. Although water buffaloes are indigenous to Sri Lanka, most populations contain genes of the domestic stock or are descended from feral stock. Toque macaque, golden palm civet, red slender loris, and fishing cat are among the other mammals that can be seen in Yala. The elephant population of the park varies seasonally.

Reptile

Crocodile in Yala National Park

The reptile fauna recorded from the park is 46 and five of them are endemic. Sri Lankan krait, Boulenger's keelback, Sri Lankan flying snake, painted-lip lizard, and Wiegmann's agama are the endemic species.The coastal line of the park is visited by the all five globally endangered sea turtles (leatherback turtle, olive ridley, loggerhead sea turtle, hawksbill turtle, and green turtle) that visit Sri Lanka.The two breeding crocodile species of Sri Lanka, mugger crocodile and saltwater crocodile inhabit the park. The Indian cobra and Russell's viper are among the other reptiles.

Amphibian

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

Fish

In the water courses of Yala, 21 fresh water fishes are found.The fish population in the perennial reservoirs contain mostly exotic food fish Mozambique tilapia.The stone sucker and Esomus thermoicos are endemic among other species. The blackspot barb, olive barb, orange chromide and common spiny loach are the common fish species.

Invertebrate

Crabs and prawns include the fauna in the lagoons of the park. A variety of butterfly species is found here. The common bluebottle, common lime butterfly, crimson rose, common Jezebel, and common Mormon are the common species.