Yala National Park

Yala National Park
Location:	Sri Lanka
Next city:	Tissamaharama
Surface:	1,512 km²
Founding:	February 25, 1937
Visitors:	153,661 (2000)
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The Yala National Park is the most famous and oldest nature reserve in Sri Lanka . The approximately 1500 km² national park is located in the southeast of the island on the territory of the southern province and Uva . It is home to numerous species of mammals and birds , which makes it a popular destination for tourists.

History and structure

The area of today's national park was already in the 2nd century BC. Inhabited by Buddhist monks . It was under the rule of the Kingdom of Ruhuna, which is why the park is officially called Ruhuna National Park . In 1899, areas of today's park were placed under nature protection for the first time . The national park was founded in 1938. The area at that time comprised Block 1 of Yala West, which is now accessible to day tourists. Further blocks (2 to 5) were attached to Yala West until 1973. In addition, there is a strict nature reserve along the coast in the park. The entrance to the eastern part of the park (Yala East) is on a disputed area between the Tamils and Sinhalese and is therefore usually not open. In the park itself there were also conflicts between the civil war parties . For example, bungalows set up for tourists in the park were occupied by Sinhalese military or set on fire by Tamil rebels.

Vegetation and flora

Large parts of the park are reminiscent of an African thorn bush savannah . The flat landscape is occasionally interrupted by protruding rock formations such as the Elephant Rock. The outer parts of the park, on the other hand, are dominated by monsoon forests . Two rivers, Kumbukkan Oya and Menik Ganga, feed these forests with water and also form small lakes and ponds there. They continue to flow through the plain and flow into the Indian Ocean. The approximately 35 km long coastal strip of the park is densely overgrown, especially at the river mouths with lagoons . There is also a swamp area near the coast , the Kumana Mangrave Swamp. After the rainy season , numerous wildflowers and climbing plants bloom . Trees in the park such as the Kumbuk ( Terminalia arjuna ), Halmilla ( Berrya cordiflora ) and the Palu tree ( Manilkara hexandra ) provide shelter and food for many animals.

fauna

Over 30 species of mammals and over 130 species of birds can be observed in the park. About 30 leopards live in Yala West. This is one of the highest densities of leopards in the world. Elephants continue to roam the plains of the park and sloth bears move through the woods in search of termites . Both native bird species and, in the winter months, migratory birds from northern India, western Asia and Europe can be found especially near the coast .

Sri Lankan leopards in the national park

Mammals

Asian elephant ( Elephas maximus )

Hanuman langur ( Presbytis entellus )

Sri Lankan Leopard ( Panthera pardus kotiya )

Golden jackal ( Cams aureus )

Sloth bear ( Melursus ursinus )

Stripe-necked mongoose ( Herpestes vitticolis )

Sambar deer ( Cervus unicolor )

Axis Deer ( Axis axis )

Indian pangolin ( Manis crassicaudata )

Ceylon hat monkey ( Macaca sinica )

Slender Loris ( Loris tardigradus )

Reptiles

Bengal monitor ( Varanus bengalensis )

Light Tiger Python ( Python molurus )

Marsh crocodile ( Crocodylus palustris )

Birds

Blue peacock ( Pavo cristatus ),

Hornbill ( Anthracoceros coronatus )

Great Stork ( Mycteria leucocephala )

Blue-faced Malkoha ( Rhopodytes viridirostri )

Red-faced Malkoha ( Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus )

Axis deer in Yala National Park
Hanuman langurs
Asian elephants
Sloth bear
Red Face Malkoha

Temples and natives

There are several temple ruins in the park. In Situlpahuwa, as the inscriptions found there describe, lived up to 12,000 people in the temple complex itself or as Buddhist hermit monks in rock caves around this place. Other ruins are Magulmahavihara, Akashachetiya, Thalaguluhela and Mayagala. North of the park is the pilgrimage town of Kataragama . To get there, around 400,000 pilgrims pass through the western part of Yala National Park annually, either on foot or in convoys.

tourism

Most tourists visit the park from Tissamaharama . The park is closed between August and mid-October due to the dry season . The best time to visit is December to May. In Yala West there is a network of paths about 100 km in length. The paths mainly lead past water and feeding stations. The park may only be visited with a local guide in a jeep and driver provided by the park. In the park there are bungalows for overnight stays. Outside the park you can stay overnight in Tissamaharama.

Web links

Commons : Yala National Park - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files