Wilpattu National Park

 Wilpattu National Park

Ranging over 131 thousand hectares, it is Sri Lanka’s largest and one of the oldest protected areas. The park consists of five blocks declared between 1938-1973 under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance and is managed by the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Wilpattu National Park spans across the Puttalam and Anuradhapura districts, and borders the Mannar and Vavuniya Districts. The area is one of the most important elephant habitats in the country and is also a great place to observe the elusive Sri Lankan leopard and the sloth bear.

This park has a denser forest cover unlike many other National Parks in Sri Lanka. Wilpattu National Parks landscape comprises of dry zone forests and thorny scrub interspersed with extensive open plains, sand dunes and the unique Villu wetlands. Bare reddish cliffs rising abruptly from narrow beaches of the Portugal Bay and Dutch Bay are another striking feature of its landscape.

Wilpattu National Park is in the proximity to the ancient historical city of Anuradhapura and houses several ancient ruins and artifacts from various periods of history.

Wilpattu National Park is indeed a significant and unique natural area in Sri Lanka.

Here are some key points and additional information about the park: 

1. 1. Geographic Location: Wilpattu National Park is situated in the northwest coast lowland dry zone of Sri Lanka. It is approximately 30 km west of Anuradhapura and 26 km north of Puttalam, making it about 180 km north of Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka.
   2. Natural Lakes (Willus): The park is renowned for its "Willus," which are natural sand-rimmed water basins or depressions that fill with rainwater. These Willus are scattered throughout the park and play a vital role in supporting the local ecosystem.
   3. Size: Wilpattu National Park covers an extensive area of approximately 1,317 square kilometers (508 square miles), making it one of the largest national parks in Sri Lanka.
   4. Elevation: The park's elevation ranges from sea level to about 152 meters (499 feet) above sea level, providing a diverse range of habitats for wildlife.
   5. Flora and Fauna: The park is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including many species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. It is particularly famous for its leopard population, specifically the Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya). Wilpattu's remote camera surveys have captured numerous leopard individuals, making it a significant conservation area for these big cats.
   6. Historical Closure: The park faced closure from December 1988 to 16 March 2003 due to security concerns associated with the Sri Lankan Civil War. After a sixteen-year closure, it was reopened to visitors.
   7. Visitor Access: Currently, visitor access to Wilpattu National Park is limited to approximately 25% of the park. The remaining areas are covered with dense forests or scrubland, offering a more pristine and undisturbed natural environment.
   8. Visiting Periods: The popular visiting periods for the park typically span between the months of February and October when weather conditions are favorable. However, some private ecotourism groups offer safaris year-round, allowing visitors to explore the park's beauty and wildlife.

   Wilpattu National Park's unique landscape, rich biodiversity, and reputation as a leopard sanctuary make it a significant and attractive destination for nature enthusiasts and wildlife photographers in Sri Lanka.

Wilpattu National Park is a protected area in Sri Lanka known for its diverse flora and fauna.

Here's some information:

Climate:

• Wilpattu National Park experiences a climate characterized by marshy vegetation.
• The annual rainfall in the park is approximately 1,000 mm (39 inches).
• The annual temperature averages around 27.2°C (81.0°F).
• Rainfall primarily occurs during the inter-monsoonal period in March and the northeast monsoon from December to February.

Flora:

• Wilpattu National Park features various types of vegetation, including littoral vegetation like salt grass and low scrub monsoon forests with tall emergent trees such as palu (Manilkara hexandra), satin (Chloroxylon swietenia), milla (Vitex altissima), weera (Drypetes sepiaria), ebony (Diospyros ebenum), and wewarna (Alseodaphne semecapriflolia).

Fauna:

• The park is home to 31 species of mammals, including threatened species like elephants (Elephas maximus maximus), sloth bears (Melursus ursinus inornatus), leopards (Panthera pardus kotiya), and water buffalos (Bubalus bubalis).
• Other mammal species in Wilpattu include sambar (Rusa unicolor unicolor), spotted deer (Axis axis ceylonensis), mongoose, mice, and shrews.

Birds:

• Wilpattu National Park is rich in birdlife, hosting species like painted storks, open bills, little cormorants, Sri Lankan junglefowl (Gallus lafayetii), owls, terns, gulls, eagles, kites, and buzzards.
• Wetland bird species found in the park include garganey (Anas querquedula), pintail (Anas acuta), whistling teal (Dendrocygna javanica), spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), black-headed ibis (Threskiornis malanocephalus), large white egret (Egretta alba modesta), cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis), and purple heron (Ardea purpurea).

Reptiles:

• Reptiles in the park include monitor lizards (Varanus bengalensis), mugger crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris), common cobras (Naja naja), rat snakes (Ptyas mucosus), Indian pythons (Python molurus), pond turtles (Melanonchelys trijuga), and soft-shelled turtles (Lissemys punctata), which inhabit the large permanent Villus (ponds).

Boundary Expansion:

• The boundary of Wilpattu National Park was expanded in 2012, encompassing regions of the northern province.
• This expansion has posed challenges for internally displaced people, particularly those affected by the Expulsion of Muslims from the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, as it affects their ability to return to their homeland.

Deforestation:

• Allegations have been made that parts of the reserve were occupied to build houses by certain politicians after the end of the civil war.
• Civil societies and researchers argue that these were people forcibly driven away by the LTTE in 1990, who had returned to their original villages.
• Notably, the park's size was increased in 1999 after the ethnic cleansing, marking the old villages as part of the park.
• Aerial images from 2018 reportedly show deforestation and the construction of numerous small houses in the area.

Overall, Wilpattu National Park is a vital ecological reserve in Sri Lanka with diverse ecosystems and wildlife. However, it faces challenges related to boundary expansion and deforestation.