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| Sunday, 27 February 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Yala National Park : Wild 'n' wonderful
Leopards prowling on trees, sunning themselves on high rocks, resting in the cool shade of shrubs and bushes, or yawning away their languor. Who would not like to see them in the wild, though a little scared of the free animals? Do you know where you can see these leopards and tuskers? Yes. It is the Yala National Park. Situated about 300 kilo metres away from Colombo, in the South Eastern part of the island, Yala is a large national park with a total extent of about 129,700 hectares, comprising five blocks. It is a Strict Nature Reserve.
Yala's large mammals include the elephant, leopard, sloth bear and wild buffaloa. Another large animal is the crocodile. Both the freshwater and the estuarine crocodile are seen in Yala. Spotted deer is a mammal commonly seen in Yala. About 7.00 in the morning, you can see many herds grazing in the grass patches, or marshy land near the freshwater bodies. Though numerous, the deer is the main food of the leopard. Sambhur, wild boar, civet cats, many kinds of rabbits, mongooses and monkeys could also be seen in Yala.
There are other colourful birds as well, including different species of kingfishers, parrots and sunbirds. Two large birds that attract your attention are hornbills and eagles. The waders or shorebirds is another group of birds that cannot be forgotten. They seem to be fond of Yala's many lagoons and freshwater bodies. Starting with more common egrets and cormorants, you can feast your eyes on large groups of painted storks. Sandpipers, sand plovers, black necked storks, spoon bills, yellow and red wattle lapwings are some of the other birds usually seen at these water bodies. Its close proximity to the sea makes Yala an ideal place to watch sea birds as well.
Though studies and research still continue, it is believed that Yala is populated by nearly a 100 species of reptiles. Though the land monitor, lizard varieties and crocodiles are commonly seen, tortoises, gekhos, snakes and five species of turtles are also seen in Yala. A much talked about park, Yala came into the limelight again, through the recent tsunami, for many parts of the park were destroyed by the raging waves.
V.F. *********** 1) Sand dunes |
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A giant. Sometimes gentle, sometimes fierce. With long legs, large
ears. Yes, you guessed right. It is the elephant an in herds. They are not
just elephants, but ones with tusks... lolling about, playing with other
members of the herd, grazing and drinking at the large tanks.
Yala National Park is as beautiful as the leopards and other animals
living in the park. Situated in the dry zone, it contains about seven
major habitat types, from sand dunes through lagoons and fresh water
bodies to high forest cover dominated by woody trunks. With the different
habitats come the diversity of wildlife. Yala boasts 280 species of trees
and plants, 44 species of mammals and 230 species of birds.
What adds colour to Yala are its birds and butterflies. While green
bee-eaters hover about like emeralds thrown here and there, the peacock
would proudly dance about and display its beautiful feathers. However, it
is hard to spot the jungle fowl, a shy endemic bird who hides in the
thicket in a flash, as soon as it senses human approach.
A haven for white-yellow, green blue and green blue-white butterflies,
Yala holds about 40 species of butterflies. Grass yellow, lemon emigrant,
plain tiger, common tiger, glassy tiger, blue tiger, common jay, common
rose, crimson rose and blue bottle are seen here throughout the year.
However, though many human lives were lost, it was noted that none of
the wild animals perished in this incident. Wildlife officers and game
trackers who had been working in Yala for many years describe how the
animals left the area about 15 minutes before the incident happened. Isn't
it amazing?
