Wasgamuwa National Park

Last updated
Wasgamuwa National Park
WasgamuwaNationalPark-September2014 (1).JPG
Wasgamuwa National Park
Sri Lanka rel-2 location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Wasgamuwa National Park
Location Central and North Central provinces, Sri Lanka
Nearest city Matale
Coordinates 7°43′N80°56′E / 7.717°N 80.933°E / 7.717; 80.933 Coordinates: 7°43′N80°56′E / 7.717°N 80.933°E / 7.717; 80.933
Area39322 ha
EstablishedAugust 07, 1984
Governing body Department of Wildlife Conservation

Wasgamuwa National Park is a natural park in Sri Lanka situated in the Matale and Polonnaruwa Districts. It was declared to protect and to make a refuge for the displaced wild animals during the Mahaweli Development Project in 1984 and is one of the four National Parks designated under the Project. [1] Originally it was designated as a nature reserve in 1938, and then in the early 1970s the area was regraded as a strict nature reserve. [2] Wasgamuwa is one of the 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 name of the Wasgamuwa has derived from the words "Walas Gamuwa". [3] "Walasa" is Sinhala for sloth bear and "Gamuwa" means a wood. The park is situated 225 km away from Colombo. [4]

Contents

Physical features

The National Park's annual daily temperature is 28 °C (82 °F) and has a dry zone climate. [1] Annual rainfall ranges between 1650–2100  mm. Rain is received during the northeastern monsoon, from October to January. [4] July–September is the dry season. The highest elevation of the National Park is Sudu Kanda (White Mountain), which is 470 metres (1,540 ft) in height. The soil of the national park contains quartz and marble. The forests of Wasgamuwa represent Sri Lanka dry-zone dry evergreen forests. [5] The park consists of primary, secondary, riverine forests and grasslands.

History and historic irrigation

Ruins of Malagamuwa, Wilmitiya, Dasthota irrigation tanks and Kalinga Yoda Ela canal which are built by Parākramabāhu I remain in the national park. [1] 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. [4]

Yudangana Pitiya has been identified as the battleground of the battle between King Ellalan and King Dutthagamani taken place. [4] A grassland where the Dutthagamani's army is supposed to have camped before the battle is known as Kandauru Pitiya. The ruins of Chulangani chaitya which was built by King Mahanaga can be seen in the national park. Its circumference, 966 feet (294 m) is greater than the Ruwanwelisaya's. [1] The artifacts that have been recovered from the bricks of the chaitya include a bowl used by King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha and several bronze statues are now kept in the Yudangana vihara.

Flora

Safari trail at Wasgamuwa. WasgamuwaNationalPark-September2014 (2).JPG
Safari trail at Wasgamuwa.

Wasgamuwa National Park exhibits one of the highest biodiversity among the protected areas in Sri Lanka. [1] More than 150 floral species have been recorded from the park. Cryptocoryne walkeri and Munronia pumila are two plants with economic value. Reservoirs and riverine forests support a large number of fauna species. The forest consists of several layers. Chloroxylon swietenia , Manilkara hexandra , Elaeodendron glaucum , Pterospermum canescens , Diospyros ebenum , Holoptelea intergrifolia , Pleurostylia opposita , Vitex altissima , Drypetes sepiaria , and Berrya cordifolia are dominant trees in the emergent layer. Polyalthia korinti , Diplodiscus verrucosus , Limonia acidissima , Cassia roxburghii and Strobilanthes stenoden are common in other strata. Some 1,700 years old tamarind tree, "Oru Bendi Siyambalawa" (Sinhala for Canoes-Moored-Tamarind) was situated in the park. [6]

Fauna

A peafowl enjoying the morning sun Wasgamuwa Peacock.JPG
A peafowl enjoying the morning sun

Wasgamuwa National Park is home to 23 species of mammals. [1] The park is inhabited by a herd of 150 Sri Lankan elephants. Marsh elephant (Elephas maximus vil-aliya) roams in the Mahaweli River area. Both monkeys found in the park, purple-faced langur and toque macaque, are endemic to Sri Lanka. While water buffalo and Sri Lankan axis deer are common to observe, Sri Lanka leopard and sloth bear are rare. Small golden palm civet is another rare endemic mammal. [4]

The number of bird species recorded from the park is 143. [1] This includes 8 endemic species. Endemic red-faced malkoha is a resident bird in this national park. [7] Sri Lanka junglefowl is another endemic bird inhabits the park. Lesser adjutant, yellow-fronted barbet, and Sri Lanka spurfowl are the species that visit the reservoirs and streams of the national park. Peafowl, painted stork, black-headed ibis and Eurasian spoonbill are the park's other aquatic birds. [4] Rare Sri Lanka frogmouth can be found here. Another rare species, chestnut-winged cuckoo, is near the Mahaweli River.

Endemic and endangered Fejervarya pulla is one of the eight species of amphibians in the park. [1] Of 17 reptile species recorded in the park, five species are endemic. Water monitor and mugger crocodile are common in the waterbodies of the park. Skinks Lankascincus spp., lizards Calotes ceylonensis and Otocryptis wiegmanni , and serpent Chrysopelea taprobanica are the endangered reptile species. Endemic Garra ceylonensis and combtail are among the 17 fish species that reside in the aquatic habitats of the park. Of the park's 50 butterflies, eight species are endemic.

Threats and conservation

There is a possibility that wild animals might catch diseases by coming into contact with domestic cattle, which are released to the park's grasslands by the villagers. [4] Wild animals have to compete with these cattle as they have occupied the grazing lands and water pools. These cattle also damage the park's electric fence. Illegal logging is a major threat and preventing it has been a difficult issue. Elephants damage the properties of the villagers and fatal attacks on them have been reported from the park. An elephant transit home is being proposed in the Wasgamuwa National Park. [8] Environmentalists raised concern over proposed resettlement of displaced people from the construction of Moragahakanda reservoir. [9] It is suggested that this resulted in escalating the elephant-human clash. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horton Plains National Park</span> National park in Sri Lanka

Horton Plains National Park is a national park in the central highlands of Sri Lanka that was designated in 1988. It is located at an elevation of 2,100–2,300 m (6,900–7,500 ft) and encompasses montane grassland and cloud forest. It is rich in biodiversity and many species found here are endemic to the region. It is also a popular tourist destination and is situated 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Ohiya, 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the world-famous Ohiya Gap/Dondra Watch and 32 kilometres (20 mi) from Nuwara Eliya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yala National Park</span> National park in Sri Lanka

Yala (යාල) National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka, bordering the Indian Ocean. The park consists of five blocks, with three of which are now open to the public. There are also two adjoining parks, Kumana National Park or 'Yala East' and Lunugamvehera National Park. The blocks have individual names, such as Ruhuna National Park. It is situated in the southeastern region of the country, in the Southern Province and Uva Province. The park covers 979 square kilometres (378 sq mi) and is located about 300 kilometres (190 mi) from Colombo. Yala was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, along with Wilpattu, designated in 1938 as one of the first two designated national parks in Sri Lanka. The park is best known for its variety of wildlife. It is important conservation of Sri Lankan elephants, Sri Lankan leopards and aquatic birds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Udawalawe National Park</span> National park in Sri Lanka

Udawalawe National Park is a national park on the boundary of Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces in Sri Lanka. The park was created to provide a sanctuary for wild animals displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir on the Walawe River, as well as to protect the catchment of the reservoir. The reserve covers 30,821 hectares (119.00 sq mi) of land area and was established on 30 June 1972.

Kanneliya–Dediyagala–Nakiyadeniya or KDN is a forest complex in southern Sri Lanka. The forest complex designated as a biosphere reserve in 2004 by UNESCO. The KDN complex is the last large remaining rainforest in Sri Lanka other than Sinharaja. This forest area has been identified as one of the floristically richest areas in South Asia. The forest complex is situated 35 km northwest of city of Galle. The rain forest is a major catchment area for two of the most important rivers in southern Sri Lanka, the Gin and Nilwala Rivers. This biosphere reserve harbors many plants and animal species endemic to Sri Lanka.

Protected areas of Sri Lanka are administrated by Department of Forest Conservation and Department of Wildlife Conservation of Sri Lanka.There are 501 protected areas in Sri Lanka. The protected areas that fall under supervision of the Department of Forest Conservation include forests defined in National Heritage Wilderness Area Act in 1988, forest reservations, and forests managed for sustainability. Sinharaja Forest Reserve is an example for a National Heritage forest. There are 32 forests categorized as conservation forests including Knuckles Mountain Range. Strict nature reserves, national parks, nature reserves, forest corridors, and sanctuaries recognized under the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance are managed by Department of Wildlife Conservation. Total of all protected areas is 1,767,000 ha. Protected areas in Sri Lanka account for 26.5 percent of the total area. This is a higher percentage of protected areas than in all of Asia and much of the World.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sri Lanka lowland rain forests</span> Ecoregion in Sri Lanka

The Sri Lanka lowland rain forests represents Sri Lanka's Tropical rainforests below 1,000 m (3,281 ft) in elevation in the southwestern part of the island. The year-around warm, wet climate together with thousands years of isolation from mainland India have resulted in the evolution of numerous plants and animal species that can only be found in rain forests in Sri Lanka. The thick forest canopy is made up of over 150 species of trees, some of the emergent layer reaching as high as 45 m (148 ft). The lowland rain forests accounts for 2.14 percent of Sri Lanka's land area. This ecoregion is the home of the jungle shrew, a small endemic mammal of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has the highest density of amphibian species worldwide. Many of these, including 250 species of tree frogs, live in these rain forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bundala National Park</span> National park in Sri Lanka

Bundala National Park is an internationally important wintering ground for migratory water birds in Sri Lanka. Bundala harbors 197 species of birds, the highlight being the greater flamingo, which migrate in large flocks. Bundala was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and redesignated to a national park on 4 January 1993. In 1991 Bundala became the first wetland to be declared as a Ramsar site in Sri Lanka. In 2005 the national park was designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, the fourth biosphere reserve in Sri Lanka. The national park is situated 245 kilometres (152 mi) southeast of Colombo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kumana National Park</span> National park in Sri Lanka

Kumana National Park in Sri Lanka is renowned for its avifauna, particularly its large flocks of migratory waterfowl and wading birds. The park is 391 kilometres (243 mi) southeast of Colombo on Sri Lanka's southeastern coast. Kumana is contiguous with Yala National Park. Kumana was formerly known as Yala East National Park, but changed to its present name on 5 September 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pigeon Island National Park</span> National park in Sri Lanka

Pigeon Island National Park is one of the two marine national parks of Sri Lanka. The national park is situated 1 km off the coast of Nilaveli, a coastal town in Eastern Province, encompassing a total area of 471.429 hectares. The island's name derives from the rock pigeon which has colonized it. The national park contains some of the best remaining coral reefs of Sri Lanka. Pigeon Island was designated as a sanctuary in 1963. In 2003 it was re-designated as a national park. This national park is the 17th in Sri Lanka. The island was used as a shooting range during the colonial era. Pigeon Island is one of the several protected areas affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hikkaduwa National Park</span> National Park in Sri Lanka

Hikkaduwa National Park is one of the three marine national parks in Sri Lanka. The national park contains a fringing coral reef of high degree of biodiversity. The area was declared a wildlife sanctuary on May 18, 1979, and then on August 14, 1988, upgraded to a nature reserve with extended land area. The growth of the number of visitors in the next 25 years increased the degradation of the coral reef. To reduce the effects to the ecosystem, the reef was declared a national park on September 19, 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gal Oya National Park</span> National park in Sri Lanka

Gal Oya National Park in Sri Lanka was established in 1954 and serves as the main catchment area for Senanayake Samudraya, the largest reservoir in Sri Lanka. Senanayake Samudraya was built under the Gal Oya development project by damming the Gal Oya at Inginiyagala in 1950. An important feature of the Gal Oya National Park is its elephant herd that can be seen throughout the year. Three important herbs of the Ayurveda medicine, triphala: Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellirica and Emblica officinalis are amongst the notable flora of the forest. From 1954 to 1965 the park was administrated by the Gal Oya Development Board until the Department of Wildlife Conservation took over administration. The national park is situated 314 km (195 mi) from Colombo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lunugamvehera National Park</span> National park in Sri Lanka

Lunugamvehera National Park in Sri Lanka was declared in 1995, with the intention of protecting the catchment area of the Lunugamvehera reservoir and wildlife of the area. The national park is an important habitat for water birds and elephants. The catchment area is vital to maintain the water levels of the five tanks in the down stream of Kirindi Oya and wetland characteristics of Bundala National Park. This national park also serves as a corridor for elephants to migrate between Yala National Park and Udawalawe National Park. The national park is situated 261 km (162 mi) southwest from Colombo. After being closed because of the Sri Lankan civil war, the national park is now open to the general public.

Lahugala Kitulana National Park is one of the smallest national parks in Sri Lanka. Despite its land area, the park is an important habitat for Sri Lankan elephant and endemic birds of Sri Lanka. The national park contains the reservoirs of Lahugala, Kitulana and Sengamuwa and they are ultimately empties to Heda Oya river. Originally it was designated as a wildlife sanctuary on July 1 of 1966. Then the protected area was upgraded to a national park on October 31 of 1980. Lahugala Kitulana is situated 318 km east of Colombo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaudulla National Park</span> National park in Sri Lanka

Kaudulla National Park is a national park on the island of Sri Lanka located 197 kilometres (122 mi) away from the largest city, Colombo. It was designated a national park on April 1, 2002 becoming the 15th such area on the island. In the 2004–2005 season more than 10,000 people visited the National Park, generating an income of Rs.100,000 from entrance fees. Along with Minneriya and Girithale BirdLife International have identified Kaudulla as an Important Bird Area.

Angammedilla National Park is one of the new national parks in Sri Lanka. The region was designated national park on 6 June 2006. Originally Angammedilla was a forest reserve within the Minneriya-Girithale Sanctuary declared on 12 February 1988. The park is declared mainly to protect the drainage basin of Parakrama Samudra. Angammedilla also secures the drainage basins of Minneriya and Girithale irrigation tanks, water sources in Sudu Kanda and habitats and wildlife of the adjacent forests. It is located 225 kilometres (140 mi) away from Colombo in Polonnaruwa District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minneriya National Park</span> Sri Lankan national park

Minneriya National Park is a national park in North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The area was designated as a national park on 12 August 1997, having been originally declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1938. The reason for declaring the area as protected is to protect the catchment of Minneriya tank and the wildlife of the surrounding area. The tank is of historical importance, having been built by King Mahasen in third century AD. The park is a dry season feeding ground for the elephant population dwelling in forests of Matale, Polonnaruwa, and Trincomalee districts. The park earned revenue of Rs. 10.7 million in the six months ending in August 2009. Along with Kaudulla and Girithale, Minneriya forms one of the 70 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) of Sri Lanka. The park is situated 182 kilometres (113 mi) from Colombo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somawathiya National Park</span> National park in Sri Lanka

Somawathiya National Park is one of the four national parks designated under the Mahaweli River development project. Somawathiya Chaitya, a stupa said to be containing a relic of the tooth of the Buddha, is situated within the park. The park was created on 2 September 1986, having been originally designated a wildlife sanctuary on 9 August 1966. The park is home to many megaherbivores. The national park is located 266 kilometres (165 mi) north-east of Colombo.

Flood Plains National Park is one of the four national parks set aside under the Mahaweli River development project in Sri Lanka. The park was created on 7 August 1984. The national park is situated along the Mahaweli flood plain and is considered a rich feeding ground for elephants. Flood Plains National Park is considered an elephant corridor for the elephants migrate between Wasgamuwa and Somawathiya national parks. The park is situated 222 kilometres (138 mi) north-east of Colombo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maduru Oya National Park</span> National park in Sri Lanka

Maduru Oya National Park is a national park of Sri Lanka, established under the Mahaweli development project and also acts as a catchment of the Maduru Oya Reservoir. The park was designated on 9 November 1983. Providing a sanctuary to wildlife, especially for elephants and protecting the immediate catchments of five reservoirs are the importance of the park. A community of Vedda people, the indigenous ethnic group of Sri Lanka lives within the park boundary in Henanigala. The park is situated 288 kilometres (179 mi) north-east of Colombo.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Senarathna, P.M. (2004). "Wasgomuwa". Sri Lankawe Jathika Vanodhyana (in Sinhala) (2nd ed.). Sarasavi Publishers. pp. 173–179. ISBN   955-573-346-5.
  2. ↑ Nanayakkara, Eeasha; Marasinghe, Ranjan; Amerasinhe, Manjula. "Development and Management of Eco Lodges by Adjoining Communities of Wasgamuwa Park – Pilot Project" (PDF). protectedareas.net. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  3. ↑ Amaleeta, Nimashi (2007-01-07). "Wasgamuwa Calling all nature lovers". The Nation. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Senarathna, P.M. (2005). "Wasgamuwa". Sri Lankawe Wananthara (in Sinhala) (1st ed.). Sarasavi Publishers. ISBN   955-573-401-1.
  5. ↑ "Sri Lanka dry-zone dry evergreen forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  6. ↑ "No Ordinary Tree". exploresrilanka.com. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  7. ↑ "Important Bird Area factsheet: Wasgomuwa, Sri Lanka". birdlife.org. BirdLife International. 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  8. ↑ Jayasuriya, Sanjeevi (2002-01-20). "Eight baby elephants released into national park". The Island. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  9. ↑ Edirisinghe, Dasun (2007-05-19). "Wasgomuwa: threatened with human settlements". The Island. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  10. ↑ Jayewardene, Sunela (2008-01-13). "Chasing elephants is not the answer". The Sunday Times . Retrieved 2009-07-28.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.