Pigeon Island National Park

Lore & Background

Pigeon Island consists of two islands: large pigeon island and small pigeon island. The large island is fringed by a coral reef, about 200 m long and 100 m wide, with its highest point at 44.8 m above mean sea level. The small pigeon island is surrounded by rocky islets. The national park lies within the dry zone of Sri Lanka, with a mean annual temperature around 27.0 °C and annual rainfall between 1,000–1,700 mm, most received during the North-eastern monsoon from October to March.

The coral reef fauna on the large island is dominated by Acropora spp. with some Montipora spp., while Faviidae, Mussidae and Poritidae species dominate the reef around the rocky islets. Soft corals such as Sinularia, Lobophyton, and Sarcophyton are also present. The reef harbors many vertebrates and invertebrates, including 100 species of corals and 300 coral reef fishes recorded in the Trincomalee area. Juvenile and adult blacktip reef shark are seen in shallow coral areas, and visiting sea turtles include hawksbill, green, and olive ridley. The island is an important breeding ground for the rock pigeon.

During the colonial era, the island was used as a shooting range. It was one of several protected areas affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. Fishing and ornamental fish collection are the main economic uses of the coral reef, and the island is also used as a scuba diving site. Uncontrolled tourism has led to reef degradation and loss of biodiversity and fish density. Scientific research was hindered by the civil war in the past two decades, and a proposed pier between the mainland and the island has attracted criticism.

Reader's Guide

Pigeon Island National Park holds significance as one of Sri Lanka's three marine national parks, preserving some of the country's best remaining coral reefs. Its designation as a sanctuary in 1963 and upgrade to a national park in 2003 reflect evolving conservation priorities. The park's coral reefs support a rich biodiversity, including 100 coral species and 300 reef fish species, as well as blacktip reef sharks and three sea turtle species. The island also serves as a critical breeding ground for the rock pigeon, which gives the park its name. However, the park faces challenges from uncontrolled tourism, which has caused reef degradation and loss of biodiversity and fish density. Historical factors such as the colonial-era use as a shooting range, the impact of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and the hindrance of scientific research due to civil war have shaped its conservation trajectory. The proposed pier between the mainland and the island has drawn criticism, highlighting ongoing tensions between development and preservation. The park's legacy lies in its role as a refuge for marine life and a site for scuba diving, while also serving as a case study in the complexities of managing protected areas in a post-conflict, disaster-affected region.

Did You Know?

• Pigeon Island was used as a shooting range during the colonial era.
• The large pigeon island is about 200 m long and 100 m wide.
• The island's name derives from the rock pigeon which has colonized it.