This is the first Ramsar site in Sri Lanka and it is the most important wetland for birds in Sri Lanka outside the Northern Province. The lagoons of the park are among the most important wintering areas for migratory shore birds in the country, regularly accommodating over 15,000 shore birds at any one time. It is the last refuge of the Greater Flamingo in this part of the island, as well as being important for elephant and a variety of threatened reptiles. Dense thorny scrub provides a natural barrier to the winds that would otherwise accelerate desertification in this arid countryside.
Location
The park lies on the southeastern coast in Southern Province, about 274Km away from Colombo. This stretches from the vicinity of Bundala village in the east to the Hambantota township in the west. Part of the nothern boundary is contiguous with the A2 main road.
Access
There are two regular routes from Colombo. viz
- Along the coast via Galle, Matara, Tangalle and Hambantota (Approximately 256Km)
- via Ratnapura, Pelmadula, Embilipitiya, Hambantota (Approximately 245Km)
The park contains five shallow, brackish lagoons with salt pans in three interconnecting channels and marshes including the adjacent coast. The five lagoons are namely, Bundala lewaya, Emilikala kalapu, Malala lagoon, Mahalewaya and Koholankala lewaya. This unique area of picturesque lagoons and their tidal mud flats where the wintering birds rest and feed, golden beaches and sand dunes frequented by nesting sea turtles and the thorny scrub jungle where elephant Elephas maximus spotted deer Axis axis ceylonensis and wild buffalo Bubalus bubalis are found. The park is also a paradise for 149 species of resident migratory birds. The area of the park is 6,216ha. Its altitude ranges from sea level to 10m.
Climate
Conditions are tropical and monsoonal, with a mean annual temperature of 27 C. annual rainfall ranges from 900mm to 1300mm, with an extensive dry period from May to September.
Date and History of Estabishment
Declared as a sanctuary on 5th December 1969. Designated a wetland of International Importance at the time of Sri lanka's ratification of the Ramsar Convention on 15th October 1990
Vegetation
The phytoplanktons in all the lagoons are dominated by blue-green alga, such as Microcystis, Nostoc and Oscillatoria, while Hydrilla is abound in Embilika and Malala Lagoons. Marshes and streams contains water hyacinth, water lilies and Typha javanica. The arid vegetation consists largely of grass flats and trees of scrub forests.
Fauna
The forest still harbours a few elephants Elephas maximus, and migratory herds of up to 80 animals have been recorded in the area. Other mammals include endemic toque macaque Macaca sinica, common langur Presbytis entllus, jackal Canis aureus, leopard panthera pardus kotiya fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus, rusty spotted cat Felis rubiginosa, mongoose Herpestes spp., wild boar Sus scrofa, mouse deer Moschiola meminna, barking deer Muntiacus muntjak, spotted deer Axis axis ceylonensis, sambar C. uniclor, black naped hare Lepus nigricollis, Indian pangolin Manis crassicaudata and porcupine Hystrix indica.
Noteworthy amphibians include the endemic Bufo athukoralei. Among reptiles, mugger crocodile Crocodylus palustris, estuarine crocodile C. porosus, common monitor Varanus bengalensis and star tortoise geochelone elegans have been recoded. Reptiles also include python Python molurus, rat snake Pytas mucosus, endemic flying snake Chrysopelea taprobana, cat snakes Boiga spp., and whip snakes Dryophis spp. The beach along the coastal belt is a favourite nesting ground for sea turtle.
The park is the home for every species of water bird resident in the country and during the nothern winter, it is the final destination for countless numbers of waders of most species recorded in Sri Lanka. The rare black necked stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus is said to be a breeding resident in Sri Lanka. Vagrants turn up occasionally and among those reliably reported from the area are capion plover Charadrius asiaticus, ringed plover C. hiaticula tundrae, common redshank Tringa totanus, broad billed sandpiper Limicola falcinellus falcinellus, buff breasted sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis, red necked phalarope Phalaropus lobatus, spoon billed sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus, common avocet Recurvirostra avosetta and Eurasian oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus ostralegus. Both white bellied sea eagle haliaeetus leucogaster and brahminy kite Haliastur indus are breeding residents. Up to 2,000 greater flamingos Phoenicopterus ruber roseus have been seen during the north-east monsoon.
Visitor and Visitor Facilities
Accomodation is available outside the park at Tissamaharama, Weerawila and Hambantota, from where jeeps can be hired. There are several watch towers in the park. And also a visitor centre is at the park entrance.
Hotels
Hambantota Peacock Beach Hotel
The Oasis Hotel
click on image to zoom view
