Kaudulla National Park

Kaudulla National Park is a national park on the island of Sri Lanka located 197 kilometres (122 mi) away from the largest city, Colombo. It was designated a national park on April 1, 2002 becoming the 15th such area on the island. In the 2004–2005 season more than 10,000 people visited the National Park, generating an income of Rs.100,000 from entrance fees.[1] Along with Minneriya and Girithale BirdLife International have identified Kaudulla as an Important Bird Area.[2]

Kaudulla National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
A Sri Lanka Green Pigeon in Kaudulla National Park
Kaudulla National Park
LocationNorth Central province, Sri Lanka
Nearest cityPolonnaruwa
Coordinates8°09′40″N 80°54′18″E
Area6,900 ha
EstablishedApril 01, 2002
Visitors10,000[1] (in 2005)
Governing bodyDepartment of Wildlife Conservation

Historically Kaudulla was one of the 16 irrigation tanks built by King Mahasen.[3] Following a period of abandonment it was reconstructed in 1959. It now attracts and supports a variety of plant and animal life, including large mammals, fish and reptiles.

Physical features

The region receives an annual rainfall of 1,500–2,000 millimetres (59–79 in) including rain from the north-east monsoon.[4] A dry period persists from April to October.[3] Temperature ranges from 20.6 °C (69.1 °F) to 34.5 °C (94.1 °F). Many plant and grass species grow well during the rainy season whilst an abundance of food and water, even in the dry period, attracts a large number of herbivorous mammals to the park.

Flora

The vegetation of the park represents Sri Lanka's dry evergreen forests.[3] Chena cultivation and grasslands surround the tank area.[4] The community of phytoplankton in the Kaudulla tank includes blue green algae, Microcystis spp. and diatoms such as Melosira spp.. Manilkara hexandra, Chloroxylon swietenia and Vitex altissima are the dominant tree species in the forest surrounding the tank. Bushes such as Randia dumetorum, and Calotropis gigantea and grasses such as Imperata cylindrica, and Panicum maximum are abundant in some areas.

Fauna

The faunal species recorded in the park include 24 species of mammals, 25 species of reptiles, 26 species of fish, and 160 species of bird.[4]

In the drought period Sri Lankan elephants move to the Minneriya tank to drink and feed. Around the month of September the elephants move to the Kaudulla tank in search of more water and food.[5] Despite the escalating human-elephant conflict, the number of elephants increased in the dry zone and 211 individuals have been counted in Kaudulla as recently as 2008.[6]

Sri Lankan sambar deer, Sri Lankan axis deer, chevrotain, wild boar, Sri Lankan leopard, and sloth bear are other mammals found in the park. Kaudulla National Park is also one of the sites in which the gray slender loris is reportedly found in Sri Lanka.[7] Following the discovery of a two-month-old albino Sri Lankan axis deer calf abandoned by her mother, it is supposed that Kaudulla is probably the only national park in Sri Lanka to have albino axis deer.[8]

Large water birds such as spot-billed pelican and lesser adjutant visit the Kaudulla tank. Fish species in the tank include the freshwater Oreochromis mossambicus. Fejervarya pulla is an endemic amphibian to Sri Lanka that inhabits the National Park.[4] Freshwater turtles, Indian flap-shelled turtle and Indian black turtle are the noteworthy reptiles.

Conservation

It is reported that the spread of invasive, alien species such as Lantana camara is posing a threat to the wildlife of the park.[4] The Kaudulla-Minneriya jungle corridor linking Kaudulla to Minneriya National Park was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 2004.

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See also

References
  1. "Kavudulla National Park nets over Rs. 100,000 in ticket sales". Sunday Observer. 2005-07-31. Archived from the original on 2011-06-05. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  2. "Important Bird Areas and potential Ramsar Sites in Asia – Sri Lanka" (PDF). birdlife.org. BirdLife International. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-01-03. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  3. Senarathna, P.M. (2004). "Kaudulla Jathika Udhyanaya". Sri Lankawe Jathika Vanodhyana (in Sinhala) (2nd ed.). Sarasavi Publishers. pp. 208–210. ISBN 955-573-346-5.
  4. "Kaudulla Tank". iwmi.org. International Water Management Institute. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  5. Dissanayake, Chathuri (August 23, 2009). "Elephant Gathering at Minneriya". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  6. Bandara, Kelum (September 20, 2008). "Increase in elephant population in Mahaweli areas". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on March 26, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
  7. J. Perera, M. Sandun (December 2007). "A Review of the Distribution of Grey Slender Loris (Loris lydekkerianus) in Sri Lanka" (PDF). primate-sg.org. Primate Specialist Group of IUCN Species Survival Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-02-05. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  8. Mendis, Risidra (October 7, 2007). "A rare find at Kaudulla". The Sunday Leader. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
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