Udawalawe National Park

Lore & Background

Before its designation as a national park, the area was used for shifting cultivation, known as chena farming. Farmers were gradually removed after the park was declared. The park lies on the boundary of Sri Lanka's wet and dry zones, with plains dominating the topography, though mountainous areas such as the Kalthota Range and Diyawini Falls are in the north. The park's annual rainfall of 1,500 mm falls mainly from October to January and March to May, with average temperatures around 27–28 °C.

The habitat around the reservoir includes marshes, the Walawe River and its tributaries, forests, and grasslands. Dead trees standing in the reservoir are reminders of the forest cover before the dam's construction. Open grasslands are abundant due to former chena farming. The park hosts 94 plant species, 21 fish, 12 amphibians, 33 reptiles, 184 birds (33 migratory), and 43 mammals, along with 135 butterfly species. Endemic flora include Hopea cordifolia, Memecylon petiolatum, Erythroxylon zeylanicum, and Jasminum angustifolium.

Udawalawe is a vital habitat for Sri Lankan elephants, with a resident herd of about 250. The Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home, established in 1995, cares for abandoned elephant calves. Other mammals include rusty-spotted cat, fishing cat, Sri Lankan leopard, Sri Lankan sloth bear, and several deer species. The park is also a good birdwatching site, with endemics such as Sri Lanka spurfowl and Sri Lanka junglefowl, and water birds like spot-billed pelican and painted stork.

Reader's Guide

Udawalawe National Park holds significance as a protected area created specifically to mitigate the impact of a major infrastructure project—the Udawalawe Reservoir—on local wildlife. Its establishment in 1972 marked a conservation effort to provide a sanctuary for displaced animals and to safeguard the reservoir's catchment. The park's open grasslands and reservoir attract a high density of Sri Lankan elephants, making it one of the best places in Sri Lanka to observe them. The Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home further underscores the park's role in elephant conservation by rehabilitating abandoned calves.

The park's biodiversity includes endemic plants and animals, and it serves as an important site for water birds and migratory species. However, it faces threats from encroachment, poaching, illegal logging, gem mining, overgrazing, and invasive weeds such as Lantana camara. Despite these challenges, Udawalawe remains a popular tourist destination, earning significant revenue and attracting over 188,000 visitors in 2023. Its jeep safaris offer reliable wildlife sightings, contributing to its reputation as a prominent safari destination in Sri Lanka. The park's legacy is tied to both conservation and tourism, balancing ecological protection with public engagement.

Did You Know?

• The park was created to provide a sanctuary for wild animals displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir.
• A herd of about 250 Sri Lankan elephants is believed to be permanently resident in the park.
• The Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home was established in 1995 to look after abandoned elephant calves.
• Postage stamps featuring four wild animals of Udawalawe were issued on 31 October 2007 in the series 'National Parks of Sri Lanka'.