Bundala National Park,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 southeast of Colombo.In January 2006, an area adjacent to Bundala covering an area of 3,339.38 hectares was declared as the Wilmanna Sanctuary.

The low country dry zone climate prevails in the area. The area have an average relative humidity of 80%. The national park contains five shallow, brackish lagoons with salt pans in three. They are Bundala lagoon of 520 hectares, Embilikala lagoon of 430 hectares, Malala lagoon of 650 hectares, Koholankala lagoon of 390 hectares, and Mahalewaya of 260 hectares. The Koholankala and Mahalewaya are almost totally developed for salt production. The climatic conditions are tropical monsoonal, with a mean annual temperature of 27 °C. Annual rainfall ranges from 900–1,300 millimetres, with dry period persists from May to September.The    elevation of the park ranges from sea level to 10 metres .The park was affected by 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Due to protection from sand dunes the park received very little damage.

Bird species
A total of 197 bird species have been recorded here, made up of 139 resident species & 58 seasonal visitors, the latter arriving during the northern winter (Sept- March). The lagoons attract an amazing variety of aquatic birds, including ibis, pelicans, painted storks, egrets & spoonbills. From September to March, you can see abundant stints, sand pipers, plovers, terns, gulls & ducks. The migrants Flamingoes join the resident water birds-pelicans, herons, egrets, cormorants, stilts etc.

Flamingos
The most famous visitors are the huge flocks of flamingos. The Bundala area is the flamingos' last refuge in the southern Sri Lanka, & you can see here in variable numbers throughout the year; their exact breeding habits remain a mystery, though it's thought they migrate from the Rann of Kutch in northern India. It's a winter home to the greater flamingoes & up to 2000 have been recorded here. Many other birds journey from Siberia & Rann of Kutch in India to winter here, arriving between August & April. About 350 flamingoes have made Bundala their year-round home.

Non-aquatic birds
Non-aquatic birds commonly seen here include delicate green bee eaters, one of the south's prettiest residents, blue-tailed bee eaters along with spotted doves, common babblers, parakeets & bulbuls.

Peacocks
Perched sententiously amidst the upper branches of the park's innumerable skeletal palu tees are the peacocks. A memorable site.

Elephants

In the scrub jungle is home to herds of elephants. There are permanent resident elephants & larger seasonal migratory herds comprising animals that roam the  Yala National Park & Uda Walawe National Park.

Mammals
Bundala is also home to species mammals, including leopards, sloth bears, civets, mongooses & giant squirrels, as well as rabbits, though the most commonly seen mammals are the excitable troupes of grey languor monkeys. 

Marsh & estuarine crocodiles

We will view crocs along the sides of the park's lagoons & watercourses. Depending on how wet it, your tracker might let you get within a couple of meters of their log-like forms, or even take you to have a peek inside this burros; a memorable experience, though not one for the faint-hearted.

Marine Turtles

Between October & January four of Sri Lanka's marine turtle lay their eggs on the coast of the park.