Wasgamuwa Natural National Park:

A refuge for wild animals

Lesser whistling ducks

Malabar pied Hornbill

Asian Openbill

A large squirrel

Little Cormorant

A nature lover's paradise, the Wasgamuwa Natural National Park located in the Matale and Polonnaruwa Districtsis , is a haven for a huge variety of fauna and flora in the country. It an impressive natural park in Sri Lanka covering an extent of 36,948 hectares which was created as a refuge for the wild life displaced during the Mahaweli Development Project in 1984.Even though as far back as 1938 this area was originally designated as a nature reserve it was in 1970 that it was elevated to the status of a strict nature reserve.

It is popular as one of the parks with the highest biodiversity among the many protected areas in Sri Lanka.Representing Sri Lanka's dry-zone dry evergreen forests, the park consists of primary, secondary, riverine forests and grasslands.

Apart from the large herd of Marsh elephants (Elephas maximus vil-aliya)that roam the park freely the other mammals found here include the purple-faced langur and toque macaque, which are endemic to Sri Lanka, water buffalo , Sri Lankan Axis deer , leopard, sloth bear and the golden palm civet. However, the latter three species are rarely seen.

A large number of bird species too visit the reservoirs and streams of the national park apart from the birds already living in the park .About eight of them are endemic species. They include the red-faced malkoha and the Sri Lanka jungle fowl .The yellow-fronted barbet, Sri Lanka spurfowl , peafowl, painted stork, black-headed Ibis and Eurasian spoonbill are the other avian friends that can be seen in the park.There are many endemic reptiles, amphibians , fish and butterflies too found in this hot spot of biodiversity believed to contain soil rich in quartz and marble.

Those of you who have visited this impressive park may be aware that it is not only one of the best places to see large herds of wild elephants and other wild life, especially a variety of feathered friends including the national bird of our nation, but also a place rich in flora and ancient ruins.

Do you know that the ruins of Malagamuwa, Wilmitiya, Dasthota irrigation tanks and Kalinga Yoda Ela canal which were built by the famous King Parakramabahu I can still be seen in the park? The famous Kandauru Pitiya, a grassland King Dutugemunu's army is believed to have camped in before the battle with King Elara is also located within the park in addition to the ruins of Chulangani chaitya which was built by King Mahanaga . A bowl used by King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha and several bronze statues have been unearthed from this place along with many other artefacts. The circumference of the chaitya ruins stands at , 966 feet (294 m) which is greater than the Ruwanwelisaya.

Facts: Internet

Fast facts

* It is recorded that there are about 23 species of mammal - including elephants and bears, 143 birds, 8 amphibians, 17 fresh water fishes, 17 reptiles, 50 butterflies and 150 plants in this park

Purple Swamphen

Mountain Hawk Eagle

* The park located in the Central Province , 225 km away from Colombo is bordered by the 'Mahaweli' and 'Amban' rivers.

* The park is one of the four National Parks designated under the Mahaweli Project.

* In the past water was irrigated from the Minipe anicut's left bank canal to Parakrama Samudra by Amban ganga which had run through Wasgamuwa .

* The circumference of Chulangani chaitya ( built by King Mahanaga) , is about 966 feet (294 m) ruins can be seen in the national park .is greater than the Ruwanwelisaya.

* The name Wasgamuwa has been derived from the words "Walas Gamuwa", walasa" for sloth bear and gamuwa for wood in Sinhala.

* Wasgamuwa is one of protected areas where Sri Lankan elephants can be seen in large herds. It is also one of the important bird areas in Sri Lanka.

* The park has a dry zone climate with an annual daily temperature of 28 degrees Celsius (82degrees F) and annual rainfall ranging between 1650-2100 mm..

* Highest elevation of the park is Sudu Kanda (White mountain), which is 470 metres (1,540 ft) of height.

*Of the park's 50 butterflies, eight species are endemic.