Wilpattu National Park
Wilpattu National Park | |
---|---|
Location | North Western and North Central provinces, Sri Lanka |
Nearest city | Mannar |
Coordinates | 8°26′N 80°00′E / 8.433°N 80.000°E |
Area | 1,316.671km2 |
Established | 1905 (Wildlife sanctuary) 25 December 1938 (National park) |
Governing body | Department of Wildlife Conservation |
Official name | Wilpattu Ramsar Wetland Cluster |
Designated | 2 February 2013 |
Reference no. | 2095[1] |
Wilpattu National Park (
A second, more extensive camera trap survey was conducted from May to September 2018 by Samarasinghe et al. (2022), covering a substantial area of the national park, approximately 660 km2, and capturing a total of 133 individual leopards.[3] This count comprised 116 independent leopards (aged over 2 years) and 17 cubs. Eight adult females were observed with 1–2 cubs during the study. Utilizing Bayesian spatial capture-recapture models, the population density of leopards in Wilpattu National Park was estimated to be 18 leopards per 100 km2. The mean abundance (N) within the effectively sampled area was calculated to be 144 leopards. Notably, the national park maintains a healthy sex ratio of male to female leopards, estimated to be 1:2.03.[3]
From December 1988 to 16 March 2003, the park was closed due to security concerns surrounding the Sri Lankan Civil War, before being reopened to visitors sixteen years later. Visitor access is currently limited to approximately 25% of the park, the remainder of which is dense forest or scrub. Popular visiting periods span between the months of February and October, although there are a number of private ecotourism groups that conduct safaris year-round.
History
The
Kudrimalai, or Horse Point, was visited by a subject of Emperor Claudius in 47 AD, who was blown off course by the monsoon. The local king later sent his own envoys to Rome during the time of Pliny.[4]
Climate
The annual
Flora and fauna
There are many types of vegetation to be found in Wilpattu, including littoral vegetation, such as
31 species of
Birds
The painted stork, the open bill, little cormorant, Sri Lankan junglefowl (Gallus lafayetii) along with many species of owls, terns, gulls, eagles, kites buzzards are to be found at Wilpattu National Park. Wetland bird species that can be seen in Wilpattu are the garganey (Anas querquedula), pintail (Anas acuta), whistling teal (Dendrocygna javanica), spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), black-headed ibis (Threskiornis malanocephalus), large white egret (Egretta alba modesta), cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) and purple heron (Ardea purpurea).
Reptiles
The most common reptiles found in the park are the monitor lizard (
Expansion of the boundary
The boundary of the Wilpattu national park originally enclosed the Puttalam District in the south and Anuradhapura District in the east.[5][6][7][8] On October 10, 2012, the government published several gazettes (section 3 of the forest conservation ordinance, chapter 451) which effectively extended the park's boundary to include regions of the northern province.[9][10] The expansion of the Wilpattu National Park boundary in 2012 is considered a significant obstacle for internally displaced people, particularly those affected by the Expulsion of Muslims from the Northern Province of Sri Lanka by the LTTE to return to their homeland.[11]
Deforestation
After the end of the civil war, allegations had been made[
Gallery
Photographs of animals taken within the national park.
Birds
Reptiles
-
Indian rock python
Terrestrial animals
References
- ^ "Wilpattu Ramsar Wetland Cluster". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ISSN 0952-8369.
- ^ ISSN 2351-9894.
- ^ "Project Expedition". Project Expedition. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
- ^ "Separating The Issues Concerning Muslim Resettlement". Colombo Telegraph. 2015-06-01. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
- ^ "Survey Online Store". www.survey.gov.lk. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
- ^ "Future of the displaced in Musali South – Ilankai Tamil Sangam". sangam.org. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
- S2CID 85200104.
- )
- ^ "Muslims Caged In Musali". Colombo Telegraph. 2017-04-09. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
- ^ "Muslims Caged In Musali". Colombo Telegraph. 2017-04-09. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
- ^ "Wilpattu deforestation controversy". Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- ^ "The Controversy of Wilpattu – Ilankai Tamil Sangam".
- S2CID 232023641.
- ^ "The Wilpattu Controversy: Open Letter to the President". 31 March 2017.
- ^ "Wilpattu deforestation controversy". Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- ^ "Wilpattu deforestation controversy". Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- ^ "New developments in deforestation of Wilpattu". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
External links
Media related to Wilpattu National Park at Wikimedia Commons