Bundala National Park

INTRODUCTION

Bundala National park is lies on the Hambantota District of the southern province. Bundala initially declared as sanctuary on 05 th December 1969 and was upgraded to a National park on 4 th January 1993. This is the last refuge in the greater flamingo in this part of the island, as well as being important for elephant and a variety of threatened reptiles.

ACCESS

Along the cost via Galle, Matara, Tangalla and Hambantota (Approximately 256km)
Via Rathnapura, Pelmadulla, Embilipitiya. Hambantota (Approximately 245km)

PHYSICAL CHARACTERRISTICS

The park contains five shallow, brackish lagoons with salt pans in three interconnecting channels and marshes including the adjacent coast. This unique area of picturesque lagoons and inter tidal; mud flats where the wintering birds rest and fees, golden beaches and sand dunes frequented by nesting sea turtles. The park is also a paradise for 149 species of resident migratory bird and the area of the park is 6,216ha.

Conditions are tropical and monsoonal, with a mean annual temperature of 27 ° C. Annual rainfall ranges from 900mm to 1300mm, with an extensive dry period from May to September.

VEGITATION

The phytoplanktons in all the lagoons are dominated by blue-green alga, the arid vegetation consist largely of grass flats studded with a forest scrub.

FAUNA

The forest still harbors a few elephant and migratory herds of upto 80 animals have been recorded in the area. The park is the home of every species of water bird resident in the country and during the in the northern winter, it is the final destination for countless numbers of waders of most species recorded in Sri Lanka.

MAP