Yala or Ruhunu National Park is Sri Lanka's
most visited national park which is situated
305 kilometers South East of Colombo and 10
kilometers from Tissamaharama. Apart from being
renowned for the variety of its wildlife, it
has several distinctive physical features, such
as extensive scrub jungle, patches of open country,
and many tanks and lagoons. In addition, the
park has a fine coastline on its eastern boundary
with impressive dunes up to 25 meters high,
broad sandy beaches and offshore coral reefs.
Yala also features a number of scattered rock
outcrops, some with caves.
A remarkable fact about this area is that it
was once the hub of the Ruhunu civilization.
A large number of important cultural ruins in
the park bear testimony to this, and indicate
that much of the area was populated and well-developed,
especially with regards to irrigation technology.
Ruhunu National Park consists of five blocks,
the first of which was established in 1938.
The second block was established in 1954, the
third in 1967, the fourth in 1969, and the fifth
in 1973. Although the park is 97,881 hectares
in extent, only the 14,101 hectares of Block
1 - Yala West - are open to the public.
Entry is by vehicle only - in reality a jeep
and driver hired in nearby towns such as Tissamaharama.
This mode of transportation and the African-looking
landscape gives the illusion of an African safari
experience. The park is closed during the dry
season in September and October when the eco-system
is most vulnerable.
Yala's vegetation mostly consists of secondary
forest containing semi-arid thorn bush. Along
the coast this vegetation is either stunted
or prostrate. Small patches of mangrove appear
along the coastal lagoons. However, this secondary
forest is interspersed with pockets of fairly
dense forest characterised by such species as
palu the fruits of which are prized by sloth
bears, burutha or satinwood, weera and maila,
which is grown in temple compounds and home
gardens as an ornamental tree.
A total of 32 species of mammal have been recorded.
The best time to see elephants is between January
and May. There are a small number of leopards,
in the park, but they are rarely seen in the
open, more usually reposed on a rocky outcrop.
Species that are more frequently seen include
the Sri Lanka sloth bear, water buffalo, Indian
wild boar, Sri Lanka spotted deer, Sri Lanka
sambur, mouse deer, Sri Lanka black-naped hare,
toque monkey and Sri Lanka jackal.
Some 125 species have been recorded. Raptors
include the crested serpent eagle, and white
bellied sea eagle. Water birds include the lesser
flamingo and the rare black-necked stork. During
the north-east monsoon the lagoons are visited
by thousands of migrating waterfowl such as
the white winged black tern and the pintail.
Yala is home to a variety of reptiles, such
as the Sri Lanka swamp crocodile, which is abundant
in the abandoned tanks. The Sri Lanka estuarine
crocodile is to be found in and near the rivers,
and the water monitor or kabaragoya, a lizard
often 2 metres in length, is found everywhere.
Some of the venomous snakes present are the
cobra and the Russell's viper.
