 Situated 245 km from the Colombo Capital, 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. This was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and re-designated 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 and in 2005 the national park was designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, the fourth biosphere reserve in Sri Lanka.
The national park receives the rainfall during the north-eastern monsoon and mostly a dry climate persists during the year.
The National Park has four lagoons, Bundala, Embilikala, Malala and Koholankala lagoons and home for 324 species of vertebrates, 32 species of fish, 15 species of amphibians, 48 species of reptiles, 197 species of birds and 32 species of mammals which 5 of them classified as threatened. 52 species of butterflies are among the invertebrates are recorded in Bundala National Park including Troides darsius, the largest butterfly in Sri Lanka. The most common species are Appias wardii, Ixias pyrene and Colotis amata.
Bundala National Park is a highlighted bird sanctuary. About 100 species of water birds inhabit the wetland habitats in Bundala, half of them being migrant birds. Greater Flamingo which visits in large flocks of over 1,000 individuals, from Rann of Kutch of India is being the highlight. Other water birds which are present in large numbers include Lesser Whistling Duck, Garganey, Little Cormorant, Indian Cormorant, Grey Heron, Black-headed Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Asian Openbill Stork, Painted Stork, medium sized waders, Tringa subspecies, and small waders, Charadrius subspecies. Black-necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant and Eurasian Coot are rare birds inhabit in the national park. |
