Wilpattu National Park Sri Lanka
Wilpattu National Park covering an impressive 425 square miles, Wilpattu is Sri Lanka 's largest National Park, and having reopened in March 2010, it is just a matter of time before it evolves into a popular eco-tourism destination. Wilpattu National Park is located on Sri Lanka's West coast and spans inland towards the ancient citadel of Anuradhapura in the heart of the Cultural Triangle.
Wilpattu is a fairly thick dry zone jungle interspersed with a number of flood plain lakes banked with delicate white sands. It boasts an impressive variety of flora in huge expanses of forest, and varied wildlife, including deer, elephants, wild boar, sloth bears and leopards.
History and the Description of the Wilpattu National Park
The Wilpattu National Park and it's surrounding environment are steeped in history and legend. According to some ancient ruins identified, it is said that Queen Kuweni lived in the place now identified as Kalli Villu, Furthermore history shows that Prince Saliya, son of King Dutugemunu lived in Wilpattu over 2,000 years ago.
Pomparippu, which borders the Park, is also of historical importance, as ancient urns have been excavated from this site. Between the coastal villages of Palangaturai and Kollankanatte are the remains of an old harbour. Declared a sanctuary in 1905, Wilpattu was upgraded to National Park status in 1938. It is now one of the oldest and most important protected areas in Sri Lanka.
Annual temperature in the Park is around 27 Celsius and it's annual rainfall is approximately 1,000 mm. Though situated in the dry zone, the climate inside the Wilpattu National Park is very unlike that of the dry zone. The period between September to December is known as the rainy season at Wilpattu with the north eastern monsoon falling heavily. Inter monsoon rains come to Wilpattu between March and April. The period of drought in the Park extends from May to early September.
A topographcal feature particular to this part of the island are the abundance of villus, or natural lake - like basins. All bar 2 of the villus within the Park contain pure rainwater and support a vast range of resident and migratory water-birds.
Many species of flora can be identified in Wilpattu National Park, with three distinct types of vegetation being prominent - salt grass and stunted shrub bordering the coastal area, a coastal strip of approximately 3-6 miles of monsoon scrub and dense monsoon forests further inland.
Fauna
Diversity of the fauna in Wilpattu is high with over 30 species of mammalian wildlife being recorded, including the Asian elephant, leopards, sloth bears and deer. Wetland bird species such as the Pin tail, Whistling Teal Spoonbill, and the White Ibis can also be found in the Wilpattu National Park. At Wilpattu, among the reptiles found, the most common is the Mugger crocodile, smaller than it's saltwater cousin. Monitors, Cobras, Rat snakes, and the Indian python are often encountered, whilst the Pond Turtle and the Soft Shelled Turtle reside in and around some of the more permanent villus. Wilpattu National Park is considering extending it's boundaries to include Dutch Bay and Portual Bay in order to protect the endangered dugong.
| 
