Chundikkulam National Park

Coordinates: 09°29′55″N 80°30′25″E / 9.49861°N 80.50694°E / 9.49861; 80.50694
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Chundikkulam National Park
சுண்டிக்குளம் தேசிய பூங்கா
චුණ්ඩිකුලම ජාතික වනෝද්‍යානය
Map showing the location of Chundikkulam National Park
Map showing the location of Chundikkulam National Park
Chundikkulam National Park
Location within Northern Province
LocationNorthern Province
Nearest cityKilinochchi
Coordinates09°29′55″N 80°30′25″E / 9.49861°N 80.50694°E / 9.49861; 80.50694
Area196 km2 (76 sq mi)
Established25 February 1938 (1938-02-25) (sanctuary)
22 June 2015 (2015-06-22) (national park)
AdministratorDepartment of Wildlife Conservation

Chundikkulam National Park (Tamil: சுண்டிக்குளம் தேசிய பூங்கா, romanized: Cuṇṭikkuḷam Tēciya Pūṅkā; Sinhala: චුණ්ඩිකුලම ජාතික වනෝද්‍යානය, romanized: Cuṇḍikulama Jātika Vanōdyānaya) is a national park in northern Sri Lanka, approximately 12 km (7 mi) north east of Kilinochchi.

History

sanctuary on 25 February 1938 under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (No. 2) of 1937.[1]

In January 2009 the

Sri Lankan military started building military bases in the sanctuary and barred local fishermen from using the sanctuary and local residents from returning to their homes.[4][5] The army opened the Chundikulam Nature Park Holiday Resort in the northern part of the sanctuary in January 2012.[6]

Following the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War the government announced plans to convert various sanctuaries in the Northern Province into national parks.[7][8] An Integrated Strategic Environmental Assessment of Northern Province produced by the government with the assistance of United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Environment Programme and published in October 2014 recommended that Chundikkulam sanctuary be extended westwards towards Elephant Pass and south-eastwards towards Chalai and Pallamatalan and be upgraded to a national park.[9] The recommendation would see the sanctuary's area grow from 11,149 ha (27,550 acres) to 19,565 ha (48,347 acres), partly as a result of absorbing state-owned forests nearby.[10]

In May 2015 the government announced that Chundikkulam, along with Adam's Bridge, Delft and Madhu Road, would be designated national parks.[11] Chundikkulam sanctuary became a national park on 22 June 2015 with an area of 19,565 ha (48,347 acres).[12][13]

Flora and fauna

Chundikkulam Lagoon is partly surrounded by

oriental ibis, painted stork, ruff, shoveler, terek sandpiper and wood sandpiper.[1][14] Mammals found in the park include leopard, sloth bear and deer.[10] Mugger crocodile and saltwater crocodile have also been seen in the park.[15]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 2-8317-0030-2
    .
  2. ^ Sara, Sally (14 January 2009). "Sri Lankan forces 'capture Jaffna Peninsula'". ABC News (Australia).
  3. ^ "A Battle Remembered" (PDF). The Nation (Sri Lanka). 22 May 2011.
  4. ^ "Colombo accelerates Sinhalicisation of land link between Jaffna and Vanni". TamilNet. 24 December 2013.
  5. ^ "NPC Minister demands de-militarisation of Chu'ndiku'lam Bird Sanctuary". TamilNet. 12 May 2015.
  6. ^ "Army opens yet another holiday resort in Jaffna". Tamil Guardian. 11 January 2012.
  7. ^ "New Wildlife Parks In The North". The Sunday Leader. 1 June 2010. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  8. ^ Ladduwahetty, Ravi (28 July 2014). "Elephant experts predict miserable failure". Ceylon Today. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016.
  9. ISBN 978-955-9012-55-9. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 2016-01-26. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
  10. ^ a b c Abhayagunawardena, Vidya (29 March 2015). "Will conservation boom in the north?". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka).
  11. ^ Rodrigo, Malaka (10 May 2015). "Wild north gets Govt's helping hand at last". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka).
  12. The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. 1920/03. 22 June 2015.[permanent dead link
    ]
  13. ^ "National Parks". Department of Wildlife Conservation. Archived from the original on 2016-01-20. Retrieved 2016-01-09.
  14. ^ "Birdwatching sites". Ceylon Bird Club.
  15. ^ Santiapillai, Charles; Wijeyamohan, S. (1 February 2004). "Return of the croc to Jaffna". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka).
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