Udawalawe National Park
Encyclopedia
Udawalawe National Park lies on the boundary of Sabaragamuwa
and Uva
Provinces, in Sri Lanka
. The national park
was created to provide a sanctuary for wild animals displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe reservoir on the Walawe River, as well as to protect the catchment
of the reservoir. The reserve covers 30821 hectare of land area and was established on 30 June 1972. Before the designation of the national park, the area was used for shifting cultivation
(chena farming). The farmers were gradually removed once the national park was declared. The park is 165 kilometres (102.5 mi) from Colombo
. Udawalawe is an important habitat for water birds
and Sri Lankan Elephant
s. It is a popular tourist destination and the third most visited park in the country.
s of Bambaragala and Reminikotha lie within it. The park has an annual rainfall of 1500 millimetres (59.1 in), most of which falls during the months of October to January and March to May. The average annual temperature is about 27–28 °C (80.6–82.4 F), while relative humidity
varies from 70% to 82%. Well-drained reddish-brown soil is the predominant soil type
, with poorly drained low humic grey soils found in the valley bottoms. Mainly alluvial soils form the beds of the watercourses.
es, the Walawe river and its tributaries, forest
s and grassland
s. Dead tree standing in the reservoir are visual reminders of the extent of forest cover before dam construction. Green algae
, including Pediastrum
and Scenedesmus
spp., and blue green algae species such as Microsystis, occur in the reservoir. Areas of open grassland are abundant as a result of former chena farming practices. There is a plantation of teak
beyond the southern boundary, below the dam, which was planted before the declaration of the park. Species recorded from the park include 94 plants, 21 fish, 12 amphibians, 33 reptiles, 184 birds (33 of which are migratory), and 43 mammals. Additionally 135 species of butterflies are among the invertebrate
s found in Udawalawe.
, Memecylon petiolatum, Erythroxylon zeylanicum, and Jasminum angustifolium are endemic floral species recorded from the park. Hopea cordifolia is found along the river along with Terminalia arjuna
. Panicum maximum and Imperata cylindrica are important food sources for the elephants. Chloroxylon swietenia
, Berrya cordifolia
, Diospyros ebenum
, Adina cordifolia, Vitex pinnata
, Schleichera oleosa, and Diospyros ovalifolia are the common taller trees. Terminalia bellirica and Phyllanthus emblica are plants of medicinal value
found in the forest. Cymbopogon confertiflorus grass species and Grewia tiliifolia bushes are common in the grasslands.
s, which are relatively easy to see in its open habitats. Many elephants are attracted to the park because of the Udawalawe reservoir, with a herd of about 250 believed to be permanently resident. The Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home was established in 1995 for the purpose of looking after abandoned elephant calves within the park. A total of nine calves, on two occasions in 1998 and 2000, with another eight calves in 2002, were released in the park when old enough to fend for themselves.
The Rusty-spotted Cat
, Fishing Cat
and Sri Lankan Leopard are members of the Felidae
family present in Udawalawe. The Sri Lankan Sloth Bear
is seldom seen because of its rarity. Sri Lankan Sambar Deer
, Sri Lankan Axis Deer
, Indian Muntjac
, Sri Lankan Spotted Chevrotain
, Wild Boar and Water Buffalo
are among other mammal species. Golden Jackal
, Asian Palm Civet, Toque Macaque
, Tufted Grey Langur and Indian Hare
also inhabit the park. A study conducted in 1989 found that considerable numbers of Golden Palm Civet
s inhabit the forests of Udawalawe. Five species of mice
also have been recorded from the park. The endemic Ceylon Spiny Mouse
, known from Yala National Park
, was recorded in Udawalawe in 1989. Indian Bush Rat
and three species of mongoose
s are also recorded in the national park.
site. Endemics such as Sri Lanka Spurfowl
, Red-faced Malkoha
, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill
, Brown-capped Babbler
, and Sri Lanka Junglefowl
are among of the breeding resident birds. White Wagtail
and Black-capped Kingfisher
are rare migrants. A variety of water birds visit the reservoir, including cormorant
s, the Spot-billed Pelican
, Asian Openbill, Painted Stork
, Black-headed Ibis
and Eurasian Spoonbill.
The open parkland attracts birds of prey
such as White-bellied Sea Eagle
, Crested Serpent-eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle
, Booted Eagle
, and Changeable Hawk-eagle. Landbirds are in abundance, and include Indian Roller
, Indian Peafowl
, Malabar Pied Hornbill
and Pied Cuckoo
.
s, Water Monitor
s, Bengal Monitor
s and 30 species of snake
are found in the park. Garra ceylonensis is an endemic fish species recorded in park. Introduced Oreochromis
spp., Giant gourami
, Catla
, and Rohu
are important food fish species found in the reservoir.
and Eucalyptus
are causing reduced water levels in the Walawe river. Encroachment by human settlements, poaching
, illegal logging
, gem mining, overgrazing
and chena farming are major threats to the park. Lantana camara
and Phyllanthus polyphyllus are invasive weeds affecting the food plants of the elephants. Occasions of elephants being shot with illegal muzzleloader
guns has been reported.
and Tufted Grey Langur.
Sabaragamuwa Province
Sabaragamuwa, is a province of Sri Lanka, and contains two main cities: Ratnapura and Kegalle. Sabaragamuwa University is in Belihuloya. It is named after its former indigenous inhabitants, namely the Sabara, an indic term for hunter gatherer tribes, a term seldom used in ancient Sri...
and Uva
Uva Province
Uva is Sri Lanka's second least populated province, with 1,187,335 people, created in 1896. It consists of two districts: Badulla බදුල්ල பதுளை and Moneragala මොනරාගල மொனராகல. The provincial capital is Badulla. Uva is bordered by Eastern, Southern and Central provinces...
Provinces, in 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...
. The national park
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...
was created to provide a sanctuary for wild animals displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe reservoir on the Walawe River, as well as to protect the catchment
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of the reservoir. The reserve covers 30821 hectare of land area and was established on 30 June 1972. Before the designation of the national park, the area was used for shifting cultivation
Shifting cultivation
Shifting cultivation is an agricultural system in which plots of land are cultivated temporarily, then abandoned. This system often involves clearing of a piece of land followed by several years of wood harvesting or farming, until the soil loses fertility...
(chena farming). The farmers were gradually removed once the national park was declared. The park is 165 kilometres (102.5 mi) from 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...
. Udawalawe is an important habitat for water birds
Anatidae
Anatidae is the biological family of birds that includes ducks, geese and swans. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on all the world's continents except Antarctica and on most of the world's islands and island groups...
and 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. It is a popular tourist destination and the third most visited park in the country.
Physical features
Udawalawe lies on the boundary of Sri Lanka's wet and dry zones. Plains dominate the topography, though there are also some mountainous areas. The Kalthota Range and Diyawini Falls are in the north of the park and the outcropOutcrop
An outcrop is a visible exposure of bedrock or ancient superficial deposits on the surface of the Earth. -Features:Outcrops do not cover the majority of the Earth's land surface because in most places the bedrock or superficial deposits are covered by a mantle of soil and vegetation and cannot be...
s of Bambaragala and Reminikotha lie within it. The park has an annual rainfall of 1500 millimetres (59.1 in), most of which falls during the months of October to January and March to May. The average annual temperature is about 27–28 °C (80.6–82.4 F), while relative humidity
Relative humidity
Relative humidity is a term used to describe the amount of water vapor in a mixture of air and water vapor. It is defined as the partial pressure of water vapor in the air-water mixture, given as a percentage of the saturated vapor pressure under those conditions...
varies from 70% to 82%. Well-drained reddish-brown soil is the predominant soil type
Soil type
In terms of soil texture, soil type usually refers to the different sizes of mineral particles in a particular sample. Soil is made up in part of finely ground rock particles, grouped according to size as sand, silt and clay...
, with poorly drained low humic grey soils found in the valley bottoms. Mainly alluvial soils form the beds of the watercourses.
Ecology
The habitat surrounding the reservoir includes marshMarsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
es, the Walawe river and its tributaries, forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s and grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
s. Dead tree standing in the reservoir are visual reminders of the extent of forest cover before dam construction. Green algae
Green algae
The green algae are the large group of algae from which the embryophytes emerged. As such, they form a paraphyletic group, although the group including both green algae and embryophytes is monophyletic...
, including Pediastrum
Pediastrum
Pediastrum is a genus of algae, in the family Hydrodictyaceae. It is a nonmotile coenobial green alga that inhabits freshwater environments.-Reproduction:...
and Scenedesmus
Scenedesmus
Scenedesmus is a genus of algae, specifically of the Chlorophyceae. They are colonial and non-motile....
spp., and blue green algae species such as Microsystis, occur in the reservoir. Areas of open grassland are abundant as a result of former chena farming practices. There is a plantation of teak
Teak
Teak is the common name for the tropical hardwood tree species Tectona grandis and its wood products. Tectona grandis is native to south and southeast Asia, mainly India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Burma, but is naturalized and cultivated in many countries, including those in Africa and the...
beyond the southern boundary, below the dam, which was planted before the declaration of the park. Species recorded from the park include 94 plants, 21 fish, 12 amphibians, 33 reptiles, 184 birds (33 of which are migratory), and 43 mammals. Additionally 135 species of butterflies are among the invertebrate
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
s found in Udawalawe.
Flora
Hopea cordifoliaHopea cordifolia
Hopea cordifolia is a species of plant in the Dipterocarpaceae family. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.Its wood is dark yellowish brown, very hard and heavy. It is capable of sanding up to grate transverse strains. It is durable and takes polish very well. Its density is .-Source:* Ashton, P. 1998. . ...
, Memecylon petiolatum, Erythroxylon zeylanicum, and Jasminum angustifolium are endemic floral species recorded from the park. Hopea cordifolia is found along the river along with Terminalia arjuna
Terminalia arjuna
Terminalia arjuna is a tree of the genus Terminalia.-Description:...
. Panicum maximum and Imperata cylindrica are important food sources for the elephants. Chloroxylon swietenia
Chloroxylon
Chloroxylon swietenia is a tropical hardwood, the sole species in the genus Chloroxylon...
, Berrya cordifolia
Berrya cordifolia
Berrya cordifolia is a species of tree native to much of Southeast Asia and introduced to Africa. It occurs in the forests of Christmas Island....
, Diospyros ebenum
Diospyros ebenum
Diospyros ebenum is a species of tree occurring in southern India and Sri Lanka. It is best known for being one of the trees that yield ebony; the wood of this tree is called Ceylon Ebony or India Ebony, but often simply called "ebony"....
, Adina cordifolia, Vitex pinnata
Vitex pinnata
-General Description:Trees up 2-15 meter tall; up to 40 cm in diameter . Bark fissured, flaky, pale yellowish grey to brown; inner bark pale yellow becoming green on exposure; sapwood soft yellow to brown. Leaves 3- or 5-foliolate...
, Schleichera oleosa, and Diospyros ovalifolia are the common taller trees. Terminalia bellirica and Phyllanthus emblica are plants of medicinal value
Herbalism
Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, herblore, and phytotherapy...
found in the forest. Cymbopogon confertiflorus grass species and Grewia tiliifolia bushes are common in the grasslands.
Mammals
Udawalawe is an important habitat for Sri Lankan ElephantSri 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, which are relatively easy to see in its open habitats. Many elephants are attracted to the park because of the Udawalawe reservoir, with a herd of about 250 believed to be permanently resident. The Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home was established in 1995 for the purpose of looking after abandoned elephant calves within the park. A total of nine calves, on two occasions in 1998 and 2000, with another eight calves in 2002, were released in the park when old enough to fend for themselves.
The Rusty-spotted Cat
Rusty-spotted Cat
The Rusty-spotted Cat is the cat family's smallest member and found only in India and Sri Lanka. It has been listed as Vulnerable by IUCN in 2002 as the total effective population size is below 10,000 mature individuals, with a declining trend due to habitat loss, and no subpopulation containing...
, Fishing Cat
Fishing Cat
The Fishing Cat is a medium-sized wild cat of South and Southeast Asia. In 2008, the IUCN classified the fishing cat as endangered since they are concentrated primarily in wetland habitats, which are increasingly being settled, degraded and converted...
and Sri Lankan Leopard are members of the Felidae
Felidae
Felidae is the biological family of the cats; a member of this family is called a felid. Felids are the strictest carnivores of the thirteen terrestrial families in the order Carnivora, although the three families of marine mammals comprising the superfamily pinnipedia are as carnivorous as the...
family present in Udawalawe. The Sri Lankan Sloth Bear
Sri Lankan Sloth Bear
The Sri Lankan Sloth Bear is a subspecies of the Sloth Bear. It is found mainly in lowland dry forests in the Island of Sri Lanka....
is seldom seen because of its rarity. 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...
, Indian Muntjac
Indian Muntjac
The Common Muntjac , also called the Red Muntjac, Indian Muntjac or Barking deer is the most numerous muntjac deer species. It has soft, short, brownish or greyish hair, sometimes with creamy markings. This species is omnivorous, feeding on fruits, shoots, seeds, birds' eggs as well as small...
, Sri Lankan Spotted Chevrotain
Sri Lankan Spotted Chevrotain
The Sri Lankan Spotted Chevrotain or White-spotted Chevrotain is a species of even-toed ungulate in the Tragulidae family...
, Wild Boar and Water Buffalo
Water Buffalo
The water buffalo or domestic Asian water buffalo is a large bovine animal, frequently used as livestock in southern Asia, and also widely in South America, southern Europe, northern Africa, and elsewhere....
are among other mammal species. Golden Jackal
Golden Jackal
The golden jackal , also known as the common jackal, Asiatic jackal, thos or gold-wolf is a Canid of the genus Canis indigenous to north and northeastern Africa, southeastern and central Europe , Asia Minor, the Middle East and southeast Asia...
, Asian Palm Civet, Toque Macaque
Toque Macaque
The toque macaque is a reddish-brown coloured Old World monkey endemic to both Sri Lanka, where it is locally known as the 'Rilewa' or 'Rilawa'...
, Tufted Grey Langur and Indian Hare
Indian Hare
The Indian Hare , also known as the Black-naped Hare, is a common species of hare found in South Asia. and in java....
also inhabit the park. A study conducted in 1989 found that considerable numbers of Golden Palm Civet
Golden Palm Civet
The Golden Palm Civet is a civet endemic to Sri Lanka. It is a smallish civet and has a coat that is a golden brown or dark brown in color. The hair on the back of its neck grows reverse grain, from the shoulders toward the head...
s inhabit the forests of Udawalawe. Five species of mice
Mouse
A mouse is a small mammal belonging to the order of rodents. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse . It is also a popular pet. In some places, certain kinds of field mice are also common. This rodent is eaten by large birds such as hawks and eagles...
also have been recorded from the park. The endemic Ceylon Spiny Mouse
Ceylon Spiny Mouse
The Ceylon Spiny Mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found only in Sri Lanka.-References:* Baillie, J. 1996. . Downloaded on 19 July 2007....
, known from Yala National Park
Yala National Park
Yala National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. Actually it consists of five blocks, two of which are now open to the public; and also adjoining parks. The blocks have individual names also, like Ruhuna National Park for the block 1 and Kumana National Park or...
, was recorded in Udawalawe in 1989. Indian Bush Rat
Indian Bush Rat
The Indian Bush Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is the only extant member of the genus Golunda....
and three species of mongoose
Mongoose
Mongoose are a family of 33 living species of small carnivorans from southern Eurasia and mainland Africa. Four additional species from Madagascar in the subfamily Galidiinae, which were previously classified in this family, are also referred to as "mongooses" or "mongoose-like"...
s are also recorded in the national park.
Birds
Udawalawe is also a good birdwatchingBirdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
site. Endemics such as Sri Lanka Spurfowl
Sri Lanka Spurfowl
The Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Galloperdix bicalcarata, is a member of the pheasant family which is endemic to the dense rainforests of Sri Lanka....
, Red-faced Malkoha
Red-faced Malkoha
The Red-faced Malkoha, Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus, is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes. This Malkoha species is endemic to Sri Lanka-Description:...
, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill
Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill
The Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill is a hornbill and a widespread and common endemic resident breeder in Sri Lanka. Hornbills are a family of tropical near-passerine birds found in the Old World....
, Brown-capped Babbler
Brown-capped Babbler
The Brown-capped Babbler is an Old World babbler. The Old World babblers are a large family of passerine birds characterised by soft fluffy plumage. These are birds of tropical areas, with the greatest variety in southeast Asia.The Brown-capped Babbler is an endemic resident breeding bird in Sri...
, and Sri Lanka Junglefowl
Sri Lanka Junglefowl
The Sri Lankan Junglefowl , also known during the colonial era as the Ceylon Junglefowl, is a member of the pheasant family which is endemic to Sri Lanka, where it is the national bird. It is closely related to the Red Junglefowl , the wild junglefowl from which the chicken was domesticated...
are among of the breeding resident birds. White Wagtail
White Wagtail
"Pied Wagtail" redirects here. For the related African bird, see African Pied Wagtail.The White Wagtail is a small passerine bird in the wagtail family Motacillidae, which also includes the pipits and longclaws. This species breeds in much of Europe and Asia and parts of north Africa...
and Black-capped Kingfisher
Black-capped Kingfisher
The Black-capped Kingfisher, Halcyon pileata, is a tree kingfisher which is widely distributed in tropical Asia from India east to China, Korea and Southeast Asia...
are rare migrants. A variety of water birds visit the reservoir, including cormorant
Cormorant
The bird family Phalacrocoracidae is represented by some 40 species of cormorants and shags. Several different classifications of the family have been proposed recently, and the number of genera is disputed.- Names :...
s, the 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...
, Asian Openbill, Painted Stork
Painted Stork
The Painted Stork is a large wading bird in the stork family. It is found in the wetlands of the plains of tropical Asia south of the Himalayas in South Asia and extending into Southeast Asia. Their distinctive pink tertial feathers give them their name. They forage in flocks in shallow waters...
, Black-headed Ibis
Black-headed Ibis
The Black-headed Ibis or Oriental White Ibis is a species of wading bird of the ibis family Threskiornithidae which breeds in South Asia and Southeast Asia from Pakistan to India, Sri Lanka east up to Japan...
and Eurasian Spoonbill.
The open parkland attracts birds of prey
Bird of prey
Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh....
such as White-bellied Sea Eagle
White-bellied Sea Eagle
The White-bellied Sea Eagle , also known as the White-breasted Sea Eagle, is a large diurnal bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. Originally described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1788, it is closely related to Sanford's Sea Eagle of the Solomon Islands, and the two are considered a superspecies...
, Crested Serpent-eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle
Grey-headed Fish Eagle
The Grey-headed Fish Eagle is a bird of prey. Like all eagles, it is in the family Accipitridae.Grey-headed Fish Eagle breeds in southern Asia from India and Sri Lanka to Southeast asia...
, Booted Eagle
Booted Eagle
The Booted Eagle is a medium-sized bird of prey. It is about in length and has a wingspan of . Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae....
, and Changeable Hawk-eagle. Landbirds are in abundance, and include Indian Roller
Indian Roller
The Indian Roller , also called the Blue Jay in former times is a member of the roller family of birds. They are found in southern Asia from Iraq to Thailand and are best known for the aerobatic displays of the male during the breeding season...
, Indian Peafowl
Indian Peafowl
The Indian Peafowl or Blue Peafowl is a large and brightly coloured bird of the pheasant family native to South Asia, but introduced and semi-feral in many other parts of the world...
, Malabar Pied Hornbill
Malabar Pied Hornbill
The Malabar Pied Hornbill is a hornbill. Hornbills are a family of tropical near-passerine birds found in the Old World....
and Pied Cuckoo
Pied Cuckoo
The Jacobin Cuckoo, Pied Cuckoo, or Pied Crested Cuckoo is a member of the cuckoo order of birds that is found in Africa and Asia. It is partially migratory and in India, it has been considered a harbinger of the Monsoon rains due to the timing of its arrival...
.
Reptiles and fish
Oriental Garden Lizards, Painted-lip Lizards, Mugger CrocodileMugger Crocodile
The mugger crocodile , also called the Indian, Indus, Persian, or marsh crocodile, is found throughout the Indian subcontinent and the surrounding countries...
s, Water Monitor
Water monitor
The Water monitor, is a large species of monitor lizard capable of growing to in length, with the average size of most adults at long. Maximum weight of Varanus salvator can be over , but most are half that size. Their body is muscular with a long, powerful, laterally compressed tail...
s, Bengal Monitor
Bengal monitor
The Bengal monitor or common Indian monitor, is a monitor lizard found widely distributed over South Asia. This large lizard is mainly terrestrial, and grows to about 175 cm from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail...
s and 30 species of snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
are found in the park. Garra ceylonensis is an endemic fish species recorded in park. Introduced Oreochromis
Oreochromis
Oreochromis is a large genus of tilapiine cichlids, fishes endemic to Africa and the Middle East. Several species from this genus have been introduced far outside their native range, and are important in aquaculture...
spp., Giant gourami
Giant gourami
The Giant Gourami is a gourami, a freshwater fish belonging to the sub-family Osphroneminae in the family Osphronemidae. Some other larger members of this family are also occasionally or regionally referred to as "giant gouramis", including the banded gourami, Trichogaster fasciatus, and the three...
, Catla
Catla
Catla catla, , also known as Indian Carp, is the only member of the genus Catla, of the carp family Cyprinidae. It is a fish with a large protruding lower jaw. It is commonly found in rivers and freshwater lakes in India , Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Pakistan...
, and Rohu
Rohu
Rohi or Rohu is a fish of the carp family Cyprinidae, found commonly in rivers and freshwater lakes in and around South Asia and South-East Asia. It is a herbivore. It is treated as a delicacy in Bangladesh, Nepal and the Indian states of Orissa, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh...
are important food fish species found in the reservoir.
Conservation
Clearing natural forests and planting monospecies cultures such as PinePine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
and Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
are causing reduced water levels in the Walawe river. Encroachment by human settlements, poaching
Poaching
Poaching is the illegal taking of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international conservation and wildlife management laws. Violations of hunting laws and regulations are normally punishable by law and, collectively, such violations are known as poaching.It may be illegal and in...
, illegal logging
Illegal logging
Illegal logging is the harvest, transportation, purchase or sale of timber in violation of laws. The harvesting procedure itself may be illegal, including using corrupt means to gain access to forests; extraction without permission or from a protected area; the cutting of protected species; or the...
, gem mining, overgrazing
Overgrazing
Overgrazing occurs when plants are exposed to intensive grazing for extended periods of time, or without sufficient recovery periods. It can be caused by either livestock in poorly managed agricultural applications, or by overpopulations of native or non-native wild animals.Overgrazing reduces the...
and chena farming are major threats to the park. 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...
and Phyllanthus polyphyllus are invasive weeds affecting the food plants of the elephants. Occasions of elephants being shot with illegal muzzleloader
Muzzleloader
A muzzleloader is any firearm into which the projectile and usually the propellant charge is loaded from the muzzle of the gun . This is distinct from the more popular modern designs of breech-loading firearms...
guns has been reported.
Tourism
In the six months ending in August 2009, the park earned revenue of Rs. 18.2 millions. From 1994 to 2001 some 423,000 people visited the park, 20% of them foreigners. For the 1998-2001 period average annual revenue was 280,000. Postage stamps bearing the images of four wild animals of Udawalawe were issued on 31 October 2007 in the series "National Parks of Sri Lanka", featuring Water Buffalo, Sri Lankan Elephant, Ruddy MongooseRuddy Mongoose
The Ruddy Mongoose is a species of mongoose found in hill forests of peninsular India and Sri Lanka. This mongoose along with the Striped-necked Mongoose are the only mongoose species endemic to India and Sri Lanka....
and Tufted Grey Langur.
See also
- Protected areas of Sri LankaProtected areas of Sri LankaProtected areas of Sri Lanka are administrated by Department of Forest Conservation and Department of Wildlife Conservation of Sri Lanka.There are 501 protected areas in Sri Lanka. The protected areas falls under supervision Department of Forest Conservation include forests defined in National...
- Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home