Kaudulla National Park
Encyclopedia
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. Along with Minneriya
and Girithale BirdLife International
have identified Kaudulla as an Important Bird Area
.
Historically Kaudulla was one of the 16 irrigation tank
s built by King Mahasen
. 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.
. A dry period persists from April to October. 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.
. Chena cultivation and grasslands surround the tank area. The community of phytoplankton
in the Kaudulla tank includes blue green algae, Microcystis
spp. and diatom
s 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.
In the drought period Sri Lankan Elephant
s 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. 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.
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. 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.
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. Freshwater turtles, Indian Flap-shelled Turtle and Indian Black Turtle
are the noteworthy reptiles.
, alien
species such as Lantana camara
is posing a threat to the wildlife of the park. The Kaudulla-Minneriya jungle corridor
linking Kaudulla to Minneriya National Park was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 2004.
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
on the island of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
located 197 kilometres (122 mi) away from the largest city, Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of 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. Along with Minneriya
Minneriya
Minneriya is a small town in Sri Lanka, and is famous for two things , for the great Minneriya lake build by King Mahasen and for the Minneriya National Park which is a hot spot for safari lovers because of the abandons of Elephants...
and Girithale BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
have identified Kaudulla as an Important Bird Area
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
.
Historically Kaudulla was one of the 16 irrigation tank
Irrigation tank
For etymology, see Storage tank#Etymology.In India, an irrigation tank or tank is an artificial reservoir of any size. . It can also have a natural or man-made spring included as part of a structure...
s built by King Mahasen
Mahasena of Sri Lanka
Mahasen, also known in some records as Mahasena, was a king of Sri Lanka who ruled the country from 275 to 301 AD. He started the construction of large tanks or reservoirs in Sri Lanka, and built sixteen such tanks...
. 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 1500–2000 mm (59.1–78.7 in) including rain from the north-east monsoonMonsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
. A dry period persists from April to October. 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
Herbivore
Herbivores are organisms that are anatomically and physiologically adapted to eat plant-based foods. Herbivory is a form of consumption in which an organism principally eats autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria. More generally, organisms that feed on autotrophs in...
mammals to the park.
Flora
The vegetation of the park represents Sri Lanka's dry evergreen forestsSri Lanka dry-zone dry evergreen forests
The Sri Lanka dry-zone dry evergreen forests are a tropical dry broadleaf forest ecoregion of the island of Sri Lanka. The ecoregion covers an area of , which includes most of the island of Sri Lanka, with the exception of the islands' southwestern corner and central highlands, home to the Sri...
. Chena cultivation and grasslands surround the tank area. The community of phytoplankton
Phytoplankton
Phytoplankton are the autotrophic component of the plankton community. The name comes from the Greek words φυτόν , meaning "plant", and πλαγκτός , meaning "wanderer" or "drifter". Most phytoplankton are too small to be individually seen with the unaided eye...
in the Kaudulla tank includes blue green algae, Microcystis
Microcystis
Microcystis is the genus of freshwater cyanobacteria which includes the harmful algal bloom Microcystis aeruginosa.-Etymology:The generic moniker Microcystis derives from the Greek mikros + kystis...
spp. and diatom
Diatom
Diatoms are a major group of algae, and are one of the most common types of phytoplankton. Most diatoms are unicellular, although they can exist as colonies in the shape of filaments or ribbons , fans , zigzags , or stellate colonies . Diatoms are producers within the food chain...
s such as Melosira spp.. Manilkara hexandra
Manilkara hexandra
Manilkara hexandra is a species in the tribe Sapoteae, in the Sapotaceae family that is native to much of south Asia Manilkara hexandra is a species in the tribe Sapoteae, in the Sapotaceae family that is native to much of south Asia Manilkara hexandra is a species in the tribe Sapoteae, in the...
, Chloroxylon swietenia
Chloroxylon
Chloroxylon swietenia is a tropical hardwood, the sole species in the genus Chloroxylon...
and Vitex altissima are the dominant tree species in the forest surrounding the tank. Bushes such as Randia dumetorum, and Calotropis gigantea
Calotropis gigantea
Calotropis gigantea is a species of Calotropis native to Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India and China....
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.In the drought period Sri Lankan Elephant
Sri Lankan Elephant
The Sri Lankan Elephant is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian Elephant, and native to Sri Lanka. Since 1986, Elephas maximus has been listed as endangered by IUCN as the population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations, estimated to be 60–75 years...
s 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. 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.
Sri Lankan Sambar Deer
Sri lankan Sambar Deer
Sri Lankan Sambar Deer is a sub-species of Sambar Deer that lives in Sri Lanka. This subspecies is one of the largest Sambar Deer species with the largest antlers both in size and in body proportions. Large males weight up to 270-280 kg. Sri Lankan Sambar occurs in lowland dry forest, montane forest...
, Sri Lankan Axis Deer
Sri lankan axis deer
The Sri Lankan axis deer or Ceylon Spotted Deer is a subspecies of axis deer that inhabits only Sri Lanka. The name chital is not used in Sri Lanka...
, Chevrotain
Moschiola
Moschiola is a genus of small even-toed ungulates in the Tragulidae family. They are found in forests in India, Sri Lanka and perhaps Nepal, and have pale-spotted or -striped upperparts unlike the other Asian members of the family, the mouse-deer of the genus Tragulus.Traditionally only a single...
, Wild boar, Sri Lankan Leopard, and Sloth Bear
Sloth Bear
The sloth bear , also known as the labiated bear, is a nocturnal insectivorous species of bear found wild within the Indian subcontinent. The sloth bear evolved from ancestral brown bears during the Pleistocene and shares features found in insect-eating mammals through convergent evolution...
are other mammals found in the park. Kaudulla National Park is also one of the sites in which the Gray Slender Loris
Gray Slender Loris
The gray slender loris is a species of primate in the Loridae family. It is found in India and Sri Lanka. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss...
is reportedly found in Sri Lanka. Following the discovery of a two month old albino
Albinism
Albinism is a congenital disorder characterized by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes due to absence or defect of an enzyme involved in the production of melanin...
Sri Lankan Axis Deer
Sri lankan axis deer
The Sri Lankan axis deer or Ceylon Spotted Deer is a subspecies of axis deer that inhabits only Sri Lanka. The name chital is not used in Sri Lanka...
calf abandoned by her mother, it is supposed that Kaudulla is probably the only national park in Sri Lanka to have albino Axis Deer.
Large water birds such as Spot-billed Pelican
Spot-billed Pelican
The Spot-billed Pelican or Grey Pelican is a member of the pelican family. It breeds in southern Asia from southern Pakistan across India east to Indonesia. It is a bird of large inland and coastal waters, especially large lakes...
and Lesser Adjutant
Lesser Adjutant
The Lesser Adjutant, Leptoptilos javanicus, is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It is a widespread species which is resident breeder in southern Asia from India east to southern China and Java....
visit the Kaudulla tank. Fish species in the tank include the freshwater Oreochromis mossambicus
Oreochromis mossambicus
The Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, is a tilapiine cichlid fish native to southern Africa. It is a popular fish for aquaculture...
. Fejervarya pulla
Fejervarya pulla
Fejervarya pulla is a species of frog in the Ranidae family.It is endemic to Malaysia.Its natural habitats are freshwater marshes and intermittent freshwater marches.-Source:* Ohler, A. 2004. . Downloaded on 23 July 2007.-External links:*...
is an endemic amphibian to Sri Lanka that inhabits the National Park. Freshwater turtles, Indian Flap-shelled Turtle and Indian Black Turtle
Melanochelys trijuga
Indian black turtle or Indian pond terrapin is a species of turtle found in South Asia.-Distribution:N Bangladesh, C Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Chagos Islands and Nepal....
are the noteworthy reptiles.
Conservation
It is reported that the spread of invasiveInvasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
, alien
Introduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
species such as Lantana camara
Lantana camara
Lantana camara, also known as Spanish Flag or West Indian Lantana, is a species of flowering plant in the verbena family, Verbenaceae, that is native to the American tropics. It has been introduced into other parts of the world as an ornamental plant and is considered an invasive species in many...
is posing a threat to the wildlife of the park. The Kaudulla-Minneriya jungle corridor
Wildlife corridor
A wildlife corridor or green corridor is an area of habitat connecting wildlife populations separated by human activities . This allows an exchange of individuals between populations, which may help prevent the negative effects of inbreeding and reduced genetic diversity that often occur within...
linking Kaudulla to Minneriya National Park was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 2004.