Udawatta Kele Sanctuary
Encyclopedia
Udawatta Kele Sanctuary, often spelled as Udawattakele, is a historic forest reserve on a hill-ridge in the city of Kandy
. During the days of the Kandyan kingdom
, Udawatta Kele was known as "Uda Wasala Watta" in Sinhalese meaning, "the garden situated above the royal palace". The sanctuary is famous for its extensive avifauna
. The reserve also contains a great variety of plant species, especially lianas, shrubs and small trees. There are several giant lianas. Many of small and medium size mammals that inhabit Sri Lanka can be seen here. Several kinds of snakes and other reptiles might also be seen. Udawatta Kele was designated as a forest reserve in 1856, and it became a sanctuary in 1938. The Sri Lanka Forest Department has two offices in the reserve, one of which (i.e. the one located at the southeastern entrance) has a nature education centre with a display of pictures, posters, stuffed animals, etc. Being easily accessible and containing a great variety of flora and fauna the forest has a great educational and recreational value. Groups of school children and students regularly visit the forest and the education centre. The forest is also popular with foreign tourists, especially bird watchers. The forest is also of religious importance as there are three Buddhist meditation hermitages and three rock shelter dwellings for Buddhist monk hermits.
called Senkanda, from whose name the city's original name Senkandagalapura derives, lived in a cave in this forest. The rock-shelter or cave now known as the Senkandagala-lena is located on the slope above the temple of the tooth and can be visited. The legend says the brahmin brought a sapling of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi here and planted it in the present day site of Natha Devala
. It was used as a pleasure garden by the Kandyan kings. The forest was reserved for the Royal family and the pond situated in the forest was used for bathing
. The public was restricted from accessing the forest hence the name Thahanci kele (Sinhalese for Forbidden forest).
During the colonial era
some of the land near the Temple of the Tooth was used to build the Kandy garrison cemetery. In 1834 governor Horton built a path, Lady Horton's drive, within the forest in remembrance of his wife.
Henry W. Cave mentions the trail
is about three miles long. Lady McCarthy's drive, Lady Torrington's road, Lady Gordon's road, Lady Anderson's road, Gregory path, Russell path, and Byrde lane are the other named walks in the forest. Some are abandoned and overgrown now.
and the Uplands-Aruppola suburbs. The highest point of the ridge (7°17'55.41"N, 80°38'40.04"O) is 635 meters above sea level, and 115 meters above the nearby Kandy Lake. The sanctuary contains three Buddhist forest monasteries
, i.e. Forest Hermitage, Senanayakaramaya and Tapovanaya, and three cave dwellings for Buddhist monks, i.e. Cittavisuddhi-lena, Maitri-lena and Senkadandagala-lena. The sanctuary also acts as a catchment area
for the supply of water to the city of Kandy
.
During rainy weather there are many leeches lurking along paths that will attempt to suck blood from the feet and legs of unwary visitors. Mosquito repellent or herbal balms such as Siddhalepa will protect against them.
. Of the 460 plant species that have been recorded in the forest, 135 are species of tree and 11 are liana
s. These include 9 endemic species. The forest features an emergent layer, a canopy and an understory
. Because of the dense two upper layers, understory is not present everywhere in the sanctuary, especially in areas with the invasive Peru balsam tree, (Myroxylon balsamum) Mahogany trees, (Swietenia macrophylla
) and Devil's Ivy, (see Invasive Species section below).
A great variety of species are found in the forest. Some common native tree and shrub species are: Acronychia pedunculata
(Sinhalese: "Ankenda"), Artocarpus nobilis
("Wal Del"), Artocarpus heterophyllus ("Kos"), Caryota urens
("Kitul"), Aglaia elaeagnoidea
("Puwanga"), Bombax ceiba
("Katu imbul"), Canarium zeylanicum
, Cinnamomum verum
("Kurundu", cinnamon), Ficus virens
, Filicium decipiens ("Pihimbiya"), Goniothalamus gardneri
, Haldina cordifolia, Hunteria zeylanica, Mallotus tetracoccus, Mesua ferrea
("Na", ”Iron-wood”), Michelia champaca
("Sapu"), Mangifera zeylanica
("Atamba"), Neoclitsea cassia ("Dawul Kurundu”, Wild Cinnamon), Glycosmis
sp., Litsea quinqueflora, Micromelum minitum ("Wal Karapuncha"), Pavetta blanda, Psychotria nigra, Vitex pinnata
("Milla") and Walsura gardneri
.
There are many vine and liana species growing in the Udawattakele forest, most notable is the giant creeper Entada rheedii
("Pus Wel"). Some other species are Anamirta cocculus
("Tittawel”), Diploclisia glaucescens, Hiptage bengalensis, Hypserpa nitida ("Niriwel"), Morinda umbellata ("Kiri-wel"), and Paramignya monophylla. The Udawatta Kele is probably the best place in Sri Lanka for seeing full-grown rattan palms, Calamus (palm), of which there are at least two species. Some of the climbing palms here are over 25 meters long, growing up and over trees. Elsewhere in Sri Lanka rattan palms are often cut down when young for making rattan, but in the Udawattakele they are well protected.
Orchid species, mostly epiphytic, include Cymbidium bicolor
, Luisa teretifolia, Polystachya concreta
, Thrixspermum pulchellum, Tropidia curculigoides and Vanda testacea
.
The sanctuary also is home to many species of non-flowering plants, Pteridophyte
s, such as the large ferns growing on steep banks along the shady road on the eastern side of the hill ridge.
The tree species Alstonia macrophylla, introduced from Southeast Asia, is a common pioneer in previously cleared areas but poses no great threat to biodiversity because seeds sprout only in sunny, open areas, and when the trees get large, native shrubs and trees grow beneath them to eventually take their place.
site. About 80 avifaunal species have been recorded from the sanctuary. The endemic bird species are Layard's Parakeet
(Psittacula calthropae), Yellow-fronted Barbet
(Megalaima flavifrons), and Brown-capped Babbler
Pellorneum fuscocapillus. The rare Three-toed Kingfisher Ceyx erythacus has been observed occasionally. Sri Lanka Myna
, Golden-fronted Leafbird
, Blue-winged Leafbird
, Spotted Dove
, Emerald Dove
, Tickell's Blue Flycatcher
, Crimson-fronted Barbet
, Brown-headed Barbet
and Black-backed Kingfisher
are common in the forest. Red-faced Malkoha
and Kashmir Flycatcher
are two birds listed as threatened
that can be found in Udawatta Kele.
Despite the forest reserve being completely surrounded by the Kandy town and it suburbs, there are many kinds of mammals, most of which are nocturnal. Mammals that can be seen the sanctuary are the endemic Pale-fronted Toque Macaque
(Macaca sinica aurifrons), Mouse deer
(Moschiola meminna), Porcupine (Hysterix indica), Indian Muntjac
, Boar
, Asian Palm Civet, Golden Palm Civet
, Small Indian Civet
, Ruddy Mongoose
, Indian Giant Flying Squirrel
, Greater Bandicoot Rat
, Dusky Palm Squirrel
, Indian Pangolin
, Greater False Vampire Bat, Slender loris
and Indian Flying-fox
.
Several kinds of reptiles also inhabit the forest: There are snakes such as the Common hump-nosed pit viper (Hypnale hypnale
), Green vine snake (Ahaetulla nasuta
), Green pit viper (Trimeresurus trigonocephalus
), Banded kukri (Oligodon arnensis
), Boie's rough-sided snake (Aspidura brachyorrhos) Sri Lanka Cat Snake (Boiga ceylonensis
), Oriental Ratsnake (Ptyas mucosus
) and Spectacled cobra (Naja naja). Lizards that can be seen include the Green Forest Lizard (Calotes calotes
), Sri Lanka Kangaroo-lizard (Otocryptis wiegmanni
) and the Whistling lizard (Calotes liolepis). There are also several species of skinks, geckos, frogs and toads.
Some Sri Lanka wet zone butterflies are also present.
Peru balsam tree Myroxylon balsamum
from South America is the first. Dense stands of thousands of young trees can be seen along the roads in the eastern and northern side of the forest. The Pothos or Devil's Ivy, Epipremnum aureum
, creeper from the Salomon Islands is the second major threat. In the Northwestern and Western part of the reserve, around the royal pond and near the presidential palace and Temple of the Tooth, the creepers completely cover several hectares of the forest floor. They also climb high up tree trunks, with their large leaves blocking the light for other species underneath. The creepers are gradually spreading further to the east and south. Some years ago they were even planted on road banks elsewhere in the forest. Mahagoney, Swietenia macrophylla
, a timber tree from South America, is also quite invasive and disrupts the forest's diverse ecology. The Glow Vine, Saritaea magnifica, from Brazil is another invasive species, and covers several trees near the royal pond and near the Maitri cave. In some areas Aglaoneama communatum, Philippine Evergreen, is covering the forest floor and road banks.
Severely degraded forest areas are situated between the Temple of the Tooth, the forest department office at the western entrance, and the slopes northeast of the royal pond. A few patches of unspoiled forest, with mostly native species of trees and shrubs, are remaining on the northern and eastern sides of the forest. There is also a patch of native forest on the southeastern side, near the forest department office at the southeastern entrance.
The Forest Department has no management plan to maintain the biodiversity of the forest reserve and is not taking any action to curb the spread of and eradicate invasive species. Necessary control measures would be the uprooting of seedlings, collecting and destroying seeds, and removal of mother trees and creepers.
In recent years the population of wild boar, of which there were none or very few in the forest until the early 2000s, has also increased dramatically due to the absence of predators. The boars' digging of the soil for seeking food and making mud-bathing places, causes soil erosion on hill sides and damage to the undergrowth.
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
. During the days of the Kandyan kingdom
Kingdom of Kandy
Kingdom of Kandy was an important independent monarchy of Sri Lanka, located in the central and eastern portion of the island. It was founded in late 15th century and endured until the early 19th century...
, Udawatta Kele was known as "Uda Wasala Watta" in Sinhalese meaning, "the garden situated above the royal palace". The sanctuary is famous for its extensive avifauna
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
. The reserve also contains a great variety of plant species, especially lianas, shrubs and small trees. There are several giant lianas. Many of small and medium size mammals that inhabit Sri Lanka can be seen here. Several kinds of snakes and other reptiles might also be seen. Udawatta Kele was designated as a forest reserve in 1856, and it became a sanctuary in 1938. The Sri Lanka Forest Department has two offices in the reserve, one of which (i.e. the one located at the southeastern entrance) has a nature education centre with a display of pictures, posters, stuffed animals, etc. Being easily accessible and containing a great variety of flora and fauna the forest has a great educational and recreational value. Groups of school children and students regularly visit the forest and the education centre. The forest is also popular with foreign tourists, especially bird watchers. The forest is also of religious importance as there are three Buddhist meditation hermitages and three rock shelter dwellings for Buddhist monk hermits.
History
It has been recorded that the brahminBrahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
called Senkanda, from whose name the city's original name Senkandagalapura derives, lived in a cave in this forest. The rock-shelter or cave now known as the Senkandagala-lena is located on the slope above the temple of the tooth and can be visited. The legend says the brahmin brought a sapling of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi here and planted it in the present day site of Natha Devala
Natha Devale, Kandy
The Natha Devale is located on the terrace, in front of the Palace complex of Kandy. It is said to have been in existence even before the Tooth Relic was brought to Kandy.The oldest extant structure in Kandy, it is said to have been built by King Vikramabahu III in the 14th century. The history of...
. It was used as a pleasure garden by the Kandyan kings. The forest was reserved for the Royal family and the pond situated in the forest was used for bathing
Bathing
Bathing is the washing or cleansing of the body in a fluid, usually water or an aqueous solution. It may be practised for personal hygiene, religious ritual or therapeutic purposes or as a recreational activity....
. The public was restricted from accessing the forest hence the name Thahanci kele (Sinhalese for Forbidden forest).
During the colonial era
British Ceylon
British Ceylon refers to British rule prior to 1948 of the island territory now known as Sri Lanka.-From the Dutch to the British:Before the beginning of the Dutch governance, the island of Ceylon was divided between the Portuguese Empire and the Kingdom of Kandy, who were in the midst of a war for...
some of the land near the Temple of the Tooth was used to build the Kandy garrison cemetery. In 1834 governor Horton built a path, Lady Horton's drive, within the forest in remembrance of his wife.
Henry W. Cave mentions the trail
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
is about three miles long. Lady McCarthy's drive, Lady Torrington's road, Lady Gordon's road, Lady Anderson's road, Gregory path, Russell path, and Byrde lane are the other named walks in the forest. Some are abandoned and overgrown now.
Features
Udawatta Kele is situated on a hill ridge stretching between the Temple of the ToothTemple of the Tooth
Sri Dalada Maligawa or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex which houses the Relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is...
and the Uplands-Aruppola suburbs. The highest point of the ridge (7°17'55.41"N, 80°38'40.04"O) is 635 meters above sea level, and 115 meters above the nearby Kandy Lake. The sanctuary contains three Buddhist forest monasteries
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, i.e. Forest Hermitage, Senanayakaramaya and Tapovanaya, and three cave dwellings for Buddhist monks, i.e. Cittavisuddhi-lena, Maitri-lena and Senkadandagala-lena. The sanctuary also acts as a catchment area
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...
for the supply of water to the city of Kandy
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
.
Visiting
The visitors' entrance is located on the western side of the forest, about 15–20 minutes walking from the Temple of the Tooth. Directions: From the Temple of the Tooth, go north along the D.S. Senanayaka Veediya road and after half a kilometer turn right at the post office near the Kandy Municipality, and follow the road up the hill. The entrance is on the right side of the Tapovanaya Monastery. There is parking space for cars and vans near the entrance, and a refreshment stall. The entrance fee for Sri Lankan visitors is Rs. 30,-; the fee for foreign visitors is Rs. 570,-. Sri Lankan visitors have to register and leave their identity card at the entrance. Amorous unmarried couples are not allowed to enter the forest. The shady lovers' walk, which runs along the banks of the royal pond, is the most popular walk.During rainy weather there are many leeches lurking along paths that will attempt to suck blood from the feet and legs of unwary visitors. Mosquito repellent or herbal balms such as Siddhalepa will protect against them.
Flora
The vegetation of the park comprises dense forest, mostly abandoned plantations and secondary formationsSecondary forest
A secondary forest is a forest or woodland area which has re-grown after a major disturbance such as fire, insect infestation, timber harvest or windthrow, until a long enough period has passed so that the effects of the disturbance are no longer evident...
. Of the 460 plant species that have been recorded in the forest, 135 are species of tree and 11 are liana
Liana
A liana is any of various long-stemmed, woody vines that are rooted in the soil at ground level and use trees, as well as other means of vertical support, to climb up to the canopy to get access to well-lit areas of the forest. Lianas are especially characteristic of tropical moist deciduous...
s. These include 9 endemic species. The forest features an emergent layer, a canopy and an understory
Understory
Understory is the term for the area of a forest which grows at the lowest height level below the forest canopy. Plants in the understory consist of a mixture of seedlings and saplings of canopy trees together with understory shrubs and herbs...
. Because of the dense two upper layers, understory is not present everywhere in the sanctuary, especially in areas with the invasive Peru balsam tree, (Myroxylon balsamum) Mahogany trees, (Swietenia macrophylla
Swietenia macrophylla
Swietenia macrophylla, commonly known as big leaf mahogany, is a species of plant in the Meliaceae family. It is one of two species that yields genuine mahogany timber, the other being Swietenia mahagoni....
) and Devil's Ivy, (see Invasive Species section below).
A great variety of species are found in the forest. Some common native tree and shrub species are: Acronychia pedunculata
Acronychia pedunculata
Acronychia pedunculata is a large shrub or small tree of the understory, gaps and fringes of low country and lower hill tropical forests of tropical Asia. Leaves: elliptic to subolong, often with tapered base. Twigs more or less angular, glabrous. Flowers: greenish white; I-acillary, corymbose...
(Sinhalese: "Ankenda"), Artocarpus nobilis
Artocarpus nobilis
Artocarpus nobilis is a tree species in the Moraceae family. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.A. nobilis contains flavonoids, xanthonoids in its root bark, geranylated phenolic compounds in its fruits, geranyl chalcones in its leaves and pyranodihydrobenzoxanthones isolated from the bark.-References:*...
("Wal Del"), Artocarpus heterophyllus ("Kos"), Caryota urens
Caryota urens
Caryota urens is a species of flowering plant in the palm family from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and India where they grow in fields and rain-forest clearings. The epithet urens is Latin for 'stinging' alluding to the chemicals in the fruit...
("Kitul"), Aglaia elaeagnoidea
Aglaia elaeagnoidea
Aglaia elaeagnoidea is a species of plant in the Meliaceae family.It is a tree found in American Samoa, Australia , Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.-References:* Pannell, C.M. 1998. . ...
("Puwanga"), Bombax ceiba
Bombax ceiba
Bombax ceiba, like other trees of the genus Bombax, is commonly known as cotton tree or tree cotton. This tropical tree has a straight tall trunk and its leaves are deciduous in winter. Red flowers with 5 petals appear in the spring before the new foliage. It produces a capsule which, when ripe,...
("Katu imbul"), Canarium zeylanicum
Canarium zeylanicum
Canarium zeylanicum is a species of flowering plant in the frankincense family, Burseraceae, that is endemic to Sri Lanka....
, Cinnamomum verum
Cinnamomum verum
Cinnamomum verum, called "true cinnamon", Ceylon cinnamon or Sri Lanka cinnamon is a small evergreen tree belonging to the family Lauraceae, native to Sri Lanka...
("Kurundu", cinnamon), Ficus virens
Ficus virens
Ficus virens is a plant of the genus Ficus found in India, southeast Asia, through Malaysia and into Northern Australia. Its common name is White Fig; it is locally known as pilkhan and in the Gun-djeihmi language it is called an-borndi. Like many figs, its fruits are edible...
, Filicium decipiens ("Pihimbiya"), Goniothalamus gardneri
Goniothalamus gardneri
Goniothalamus gardneri is a species of plant in the Annonaceae family. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.-Sources:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 21 August 2007....
, Haldina cordifolia, Hunteria zeylanica, Mallotus tetracoccus, Mesua ferrea
Mesua ferrea
Mesua ferrea is a species in the family Calophyllaceae. The plant is named after the heaviness of its timber and cultivated in tropical climates for its form, foliage, and fragrant flowers...
("Na", ”Iron-wood”), Michelia champaca
Michelia champaca
Magnolia champaca is a large evergreen tree, native to the Indomalaya ecozone . It is best known for its strongly fragrant yellow or white flowers. It is, however, primarily cultivated for its timber, and is also used in urban landscaping...
("Sapu"), Mangifera zeylanica
Mangifera zeylanica
Mangifera zeylanica is a species of plant in the Anacardiaceae family. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. It is very rare and found in dry zone of Sri Lanka. It is called "etamba" in Sinhala-Source:...
("Atamba"), Neoclitsea cassia ("Dawul Kurundu”, Wild Cinnamon), Glycosmis
Glycosmis
Glycosmis is a genus of plant in family Rutaceae.Species include:* Glycosmis crassifolia* Glycosmis decipiens* Glycosmis longisepala* Glycosmis monticola* Glycosmis perakensis* Glycosmis tomentella...
sp., Litsea quinqueflora, Micromelum minitum ("Wal Karapuncha"), Pavetta blanda, Psychotria nigra, 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...
("Milla") and Walsura gardneri
Walsura gardneri
Walsura gardneri is a species of plant in the Meliaceae family. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 24 August 2007....
.
There are many vine and liana species growing in the Udawattakele forest, most notable is the giant creeper Entada rheedii
Entada rheedii
Entada rheedii, commonly known as the African Dream Herb or Snuff Box Sea Bean, is a large woody liana or climber. It is often spelled as Entada rheedei, though the first and legitimate name was published as E. rheedii...
("Pus Wel"). Some other species are Anamirta cocculus
Anamirta cocculus
Anamirta cocculus is a Southeast Asian and Indian climbing plant. Its fruit, Cocculus indicus, is the source of picrotoxin, a poisonous alkaloid with stimulant properties....
("Tittawel”), Diploclisia glaucescens, Hiptage bengalensis, Hypserpa nitida ("Niriwel"), Morinda umbellata ("Kiri-wel"), and Paramignya monophylla. The Udawatta Kele is probably the best place in Sri Lanka for seeing full-grown rattan palms, Calamus (palm), of which there are at least two species. Some of the climbing palms here are over 25 meters long, growing up and over trees. Elsewhere in Sri Lanka rattan palms are often cut down when young for making rattan, but in the Udawattakele they are well protected.
Orchid species, mostly epiphytic, include Cymbidium bicolor
Cymbidium bicolor
The Two-colored Cymbidium is a species of orchid....
, Luisa teretifolia, Polystachya concreta
Polystachya concreta
Polystachya japonica is a species of orchid native to tropical and subtropical America and Asia.-Synonyms:Epidendrum concretum Jacq. is the basionym...
, Thrixspermum pulchellum, Tropidia curculigoides and Vanda testacea
Vanda testacea
-Description:Vanda testacea is a species of orchid occurring from the Indian subcontinent to Indochina. Its a epiphytic perennial, flowers in 6-20 flowered racemes, flower size is from 1 to 1.5 cm yellow flowers with a blue lip....
.
The sanctuary also is home to many species of non-flowering plants, Pteridophyte
Pteridophyte
The pteridophytes are vascular plants that produce neither flowers nor seeds, and are hence called vascular cryptogams. Instead, they reproduce and disperse only via spores. Pteridophytes include horsetails, ferns, club mosses, and quillworts...
s, such as the large ferns growing on steep banks along the shady road on the eastern side of the hill ridge.
The tree species Alstonia macrophylla, introduced from Southeast Asia, is a common pioneer in previously cleared areas but poses no great threat to biodiversity because seeds sprout only in sunny, open areas, and when the trees get large, native shrubs and trees grow beneath them to eventually take their place.
Fauna
Udawatta Kele is a famous 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. About 80 avifaunal species have been recorded from the sanctuary. The endemic bird species are Layard's Parakeet
Layard's Parakeet
The Layard's Parakeet is a parrot which is a resident endemic breeder in Sri Lanka. The common name of this bird commemorates the British naturalist Edgar Leopold Layard; his first wife, Barbara Anne Calthrop, whom he married in 1845, is commemorated in the specific epithet.-Description:Layard's...
(Psittacula calthropae), Yellow-fronted Barbet
Yellow-fronted Barbet
Yellow-fronted Barbet is an Asian barbet which is an endemic resident breeder in Sri Lanka. Barbets and toucans are a group of near passerine birds with a worldwide tropical distribution...
(Megalaima flavifrons), and 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...
Pellorneum fuscocapillus. The rare Three-toed Kingfisher Ceyx erythacus has been observed occasionally. Sri Lanka Myna
Sri Lanka Myna
The Sri Lanka Myna, Ceylon Myna or Sri Lanka Hill Myna , is a myna, a member of the starling family. This bird is endemic to Sri Lanka....
, Golden-fronted Leafbird
Golden-fronted Leafbird
The Golden-fronted Leafbird is a species of leafbird. It is a common resident breeder in India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Southeast Asia. It often includes the Sumatran Leafbird from Sumatra as a subspecies, but the two differ extensively in, among others, morphology.Its habitat is forest and scrub...
, Blue-winged Leafbird
Blue-winged Leafbird
The Blue-winged Leafbird is a species of leafbird found in forest and second growth from far north-eastern India and throughout Southeast Asia as far east as Borneo and as far south as Java. It commonly includes Jerdon's Leafbird from the Indian Subcontinent, and the Bornean Leafbird The...
, Spotted Dove
Spotted Dove
The Spotted Dove , also known as the Spotted Turtle Dove, is a pigeon which is a resident breeding bird in the Indian Subcontinent including India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka east to southern Tibet and Southeast Asia...
, Emerald Dove
Emerald Dove
The Common Emerald Dove is a pigeon which is a widespread resident breeding bird in the tropical and sub-tropical parts of the Indian Subcontinent and east through Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, to northern and eastern Australia. The dove is also known by the names of Green Dove and...
, Tickell's Blue Flycatcher
Tickell's Blue Flycatcher
The Tickell's Blue Flycatcher is a small passerine bird in the flycatcher family. This is an insectivorous species which breeds in tropical southern Asia from India and Sri Lanka to Indonesia. They are blue on the upperparts and the throat and breast are rufous...
, Crimson-fronted Barbet
Crimson-fronted Barbet
Crimson-fronted Barbet or Ceylon Small Barbet or Small Barbet is an Asian barbet endemic to Sri Lanka. The Malabar Barbet endemic to the Western Ghats of India used to be treated as a subspecies of this species. Barbets and toucans are a group of near passerine birds with a worldwide tropical...
, Brown-headed Barbet
Brown-headed Barbet
The Brown-headed Barbet or Large Green Barbet is an Asian barbet. Barbets and toucans are a group of near passerine birds with a worldwide tropical distribution. The barbets get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills.The Brown-headed Barbet is a resident breeder in India and...
and Black-backed Kingfisher
Black-backed Kingfisher
The Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher also known as the Black-backed Kingfisher is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family....
are common in the forest. 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:...
and Kashmir Flycatcher
Kashmir Flycatcher
The Kashmir Flycatcher, Ficedula subrubra, is a small passerine bird in the flycatcher family Muscicapidae. At one time it was considered to be a subspecies of the Red-breasted Flycatcher, Ficedula parva....
are two birds listed as threatened
Threatened species
Threatened species are any speciesg animals, plants, fungi, etc.) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future.The World Conservation Union is the foremost authority on threatened species, and treats threatened species not as a single category, but as a group of three categories,...
that can be found in Udawatta Kele.
Despite the forest reserve being completely surrounded by the Kandy town and it suburbs, there are many kinds of mammals, most of which are nocturnal. Mammals that can be seen the sanctuary are the endemic Pale-fronted 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'...
(Macaca sinica aurifrons), Mouse deer
Sri Lankan Spotted Chevrotain
The Sri Lankan Spotted Chevrotain or White-spotted Chevrotain is a species of even-toed ungulate in the Tragulidae family...
(Moschiola meminna), Porcupine (Hysterix indica), 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...
, Boar
Boar
Wild boar, also wild pig, is a species of the pig genus Sus, part of the biological family Suidae. The species includes many subspecies. It is the wild ancestor of the domestic pig, an animal with which it freely hybridises...
, Asian Palm Civet, 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...
, Small Indian Civet
Small Indian Civet
The Small Indian Civet or Rasse is a species of civet found across south and South-east Asia as well as in the Indonesian archipelago. The Assamese name Johamaal refers to its glandular odour similar to a scented rice variety called Joha...
, Ruddy Mongoose
Ruddy 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....
, Indian Giant Flying Squirrel
Indian Giant Flying Squirrel
The Indian Giant Flying Squirrel - alternatively referred to as Large Brown Flying Squirrel or the Common Giant Flying Squirrel - is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is found in China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Thailand.-References:...
, Greater Bandicoot Rat
Greater Bandicoot Rat
The Greater Bandicoot Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam....
, Dusky Palm Squirrel
Dusky Palm Squirrel
The Dusky Palm Squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family.It is found in India and Sri Lanka....
, Indian Pangolin
Indian Pangolin
The Indian Pangolin or ”Scaly Ant-eater” is a pangolin that is found in the plains and hills of India, Sri Lanka,Nepal and some parts of Pakistan. It is not common anywhere in its range....
, Greater False Vampire Bat, Slender loris
Slender loris
The slender lorises are two species of loris native to India and Sri Lanka, the only members of the genus Loris:* the red slender loris, Loris tardigradus* the gray slender loris, Loris lydekkerianus...
and Indian Flying-fox
Indian Flying-fox
The Indian Flying-fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Bangladesh, China, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Also known as the Greater Indian Fruit Bat, it lives in mainly forests. It is a very large bat with a wing span of between 1.2 and 1.5 meters...
.
Several kinds of reptiles also inhabit the forest: There are snakes such as the Common hump-nosed pit viper (Hypnale hypnale
Hypnale hypnale
Hypnale hypnale is a venomous pitviper species found in India and Sri Lanka. No subspecies are currently recognized.-Description: Grows to an average of 30-45 cm in length. The Armed Forces Pest Management Board states 0.4-0.6 m in length....
), Green vine snake (Ahaetulla nasuta
Ahaetulla nasuta
The Green vine snake , is a slender green tree snake found in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.-Description:...
), Green pit viper (Trimeresurus trigonocephalus
Trimeresurus trigonocephalus
Trimeresurus trigonocephalus is a venomous pitviper species found in Sri Lanka. No subspecies are currently recognized.-Description:A sexually dimorphic species, at a maximum of 70 cm in length the males are considerably smaller than females, which can grow to 130 cm. In addition, male tends to...
), Banded kukri (Oligodon arnensis
Oligodon arnensis
Common kukri snake or Banded kukri Oligodon arnensis is a species of nonvenomous snakefound in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Nepal.-Description:The following description is from Boulenger and Smith ....
), Boie's rough-sided snake (Aspidura brachyorrhos) Sri Lanka Cat Snake (Boiga ceylonensis
Boiga ceylonensis
The Sri Lanka cat snake, Boiga ceylonensis, is a species of colubrid snake found in Sri Lanka and the Western Ghats of India.-Description:...
), Oriental Ratsnake (Ptyas mucosus
Ptyas mucosus
Dhaman or Oriental Ratsnake Ptyas mucosus is a common species of colubrid snake found in parts of South and Southeast Asia. Growing to nearly two metres, they are large snakes and their colour varies from pale browns in dry regions to nearly black in moist forest areas...
) and Spectacled cobra (Naja naja). Lizards that can be seen include the Green Forest Lizard (Calotes calotes
Calotes calotes
The Common Green Forest Lizard is an agamid lizard found in the forests of the Western Ghats and the Shevaroy Hills in India, and Sri Lanka.-Description:...
), Sri Lanka Kangaroo-lizard (Otocryptis wiegmanni
Otocryptis wiegmanni
Brown-patched Kangaroo lizard , also called Wiegmann's Agama or Sri Lankan Kangaroo Lizard, is a small, ground dwelling agamid lizard endemic to the wet zone forests and lower mountain forests of Sri Lanka. It is commonly seen in the leaf litter of shady rain forests...
) and the Whistling lizard (Calotes liolepis). There are also several species of skinks, geckos, frogs and toads.
Some Sri Lanka wet zone butterflies are also present.
Threats
The forest reserve has suffered from encroachment by squatters and land grabbing by surrounding land owners , but the forest ecosystem is now mainly threatened by invasive, introduced plant species that increasingly crowd away native plant and tree species and the animals and insects that live on them. These invasive species have no natural enemies such as diseases or insects and animals that feed on them and therefore grow and multiply much more rapidly than in their native habitats. Three introduced species pose the biggest threat to the natural biodiversity of the Udawatta Kele forest: The highly 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....
Peru balsam tree Myroxylon balsamum
Myroxylon
Myroxylon J.R.Forst. & G.Forst is a synonym of Xylosma.Myroxylon is a genus of two species of Central American and South American trees in the Fabaceae . The tree is well known in the western world as the source for Peru balsam and Tolu balsam. The tree is often called Quina or Balsamo...
from South America is the first. Dense stands of thousands of young trees can be seen along the roads in the eastern and northern side of the forest. The Pothos or Devil's Ivy, Epipremnum aureum
Epipremnum aureum
Epipremnum aureum, also known as the Pothos , Money Plant, Silver Vine, Centipede tongavine, Devil's Ivy and Solomon Islands' Ivy, is an aroid native to southeastern Asia and New Guinea...
, creeper from the Salomon Islands is the second major threat. In the Northwestern and Western part of the reserve, around the royal pond and near the presidential palace and Temple of the Tooth, the creepers completely cover several hectares of the forest floor. They also climb high up tree trunks, with their large leaves blocking the light for other species underneath. The creepers are gradually spreading further to the east and south. Some years ago they were even planted on road banks elsewhere in the forest. Mahagoney, Swietenia macrophylla
Swietenia macrophylla
Swietenia macrophylla, commonly known as big leaf mahogany, is a species of plant in the Meliaceae family. It is one of two species that yields genuine mahogany timber, the other being Swietenia mahagoni....
, a timber tree from South America, is also quite invasive and disrupts the forest's diverse ecology. The Glow Vine, Saritaea magnifica, from Brazil is another invasive species, and covers several trees near the royal pond and near the Maitri cave. In some areas Aglaoneama communatum, Philippine Evergreen, is covering the forest floor and road banks.
Severely degraded forest areas are situated between the Temple of the Tooth, the forest department office at the western entrance, and the slopes northeast of the royal pond. A few patches of unspoiled forest, with mostly native species of trees and shrubs, are remaining on the northern and eastern sides of the forest. There is also a patch of native forest on the southeastern side, near the forest department office at the southeastern entrance.
The Forest Department has no management plan to maintain the biodiversity of the forest reserve and is not taking any action to curb the spread of and eradicate invasive species. Necessary control measures would be the uprooting of seedlings, collecting and destroying seeds, and removal of mother trees and creepers.
In recent years the population of wild boar, of which there were none or very few in the forest until the early 2000s, has also increased dramatically due to the absence of predators. The boars' digging of the soil for seeking food and making mud-bathing places, causes soil erosion on hill sides and damage to the undergrowth.