The Kumana National Park is mostly visited for its abundant birdlife, by people wishing to go on a birding safari in Sri Lanka. As it is neighboured by the Yala National Park much of the wildlife found there such as the Sri Lankan Leopard and the Sri Lankan Elephant can also be spotted in Kumana.
Kumana is well known for its prolific bird life. The Park is located in the south east corner of Sri Lanka, and spans 18,150 hectares. A significant number of birds come to breed and feed here. One of the most significant features of the park is the 'Kumana Villu' - a 200 hectare natural swamp lake, fed by the Kumbukkan Oya through a long narrow channel. It is in this mangrove swamp that many water birds nest in May and June.
Wildlife
A total of 255 species of birds have been recorded in Kumana. Commonly seen on a birding safari are Pelicans, Painted Storks, Spoonbills, White Ibis and Cormorants. The very rare Black-necked Stork has also been spotted here.
Kumana is also home to some of the mammals found in the neighbouring Yala National Park such as elephants and leopards which can also be seen on safari. Other animals which reside in the Kumana National Park include the Golden Jackal and the European Otter. It is also reported that approximately 30 to 40 Sri Lankan Elephants reside in the Park, although they do crossover to the Yala National Park.
Birdlife
Two Hundred and Fifty Five species of birds have been recorded in the Kumana National Park and from April to July tens of thousands of birds migrate to the Kumana swamp. Rare species such as the Black-necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Eurasian Spoonbill and the Great Thick-knee are breeding inhabitants.
Most commonly seen are the Pacific Golden Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Grey Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Little Ringed Plover, Wood Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Common Snipe and the Pintail Snipe.
The Asian Openbill, Glossy Ibis, Purple Heron, Great Egret, Indian Pond Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Spot-billed Pelican, Indian Cormorant, Little Cormorant, Common Moorhen, Watercock, Purple Swamphen, White-breasted Waterhen, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Black-winged Stilt, Lesser Whistling Duck and Little Grebe migrate here in large flocks while the Pintails fly 9,000 kilometres from far away Siberia. Rare migrants include the Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Malabar Trogon, Red-faced Malkoha and the Sirkeer Malkoha.
Flora
The Park's wetland areas are surrounded by dry zone tropical thorn forest. The inland forest's flora consists mainly of Manilkara hexandra which is known as Palu in Sinhala. There is also a range of aquatic plants, trees and reeds.
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