Wilpattu National Park Archives

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Wilpattu National Park: Where the Jungle Whispers with the Wild – By Nadeeka – eLanka Wilpattu National Park is a sanctuary where nature breathes, the air is thick with mystery, and every turn of the jungle trail promises a new encounter. Located in the northwest of Sri Lanka, just 30 kilometers west of Anuradhapura, Wilpattu is the largest and one of the oldest national parks in the country. Spanning nearly 1,300 square kilometers, it is a realm of untamed wilderness, ancient legends, and an astonishing array of biodiversity. What makes Wilpattu distinct from other national parks is its signature feature—“villus,” natural sand-rimmed water basins that fill with rainwater and become lifelines for the park’s wildlife. These villus, both open and forest-lined, are scattered across the park like natural oases and serve as perfect spots for animal sightings. They give Wilpattu its name—“Willu” meaning “lake” and “Pattu” meaning “region.” Unlike the ...

May 8, 2025 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Nadeeka Kumari Tagged Sri Lanka national parks, Wilpattu National Park, wilpattu sri lanka

The Mighty Hunter of Sri Lanka’s Jungles: The Elusive Leopard-by Kalani-eLanka Sri Lanka’s dense forests and vast national parks are home to a variety of fascinating wildlife, but among them, the Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) reigns as the apex predator. This magnificent feline, endemic to the island, is a symbol of strength and stealth, earning its reputation as the mighty hunter of Sri Lanka’s jungles. A Unique Subspecies The Sri Lankan leopard is a distinct subspecies of the leopard family and is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Unlike their counterparts in Africa and India, Sri Lankan leopards have adapted to thrive in the island’s diverse landscapes, from the arid scrublands of Yala to the misty highlands of Horton Plains. A Master of Stealth and Strength Leopards are solitary hunters, relying on their keen senses and muscular build to ambush prey. They ...

Feb 17, 2025 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Kalani Prabodha Tagged Horton Plains, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Sri Lankan Leopard, Wilpattu National Park, Yala National Park

Bravery in the Wild: The Unsung Heroes of Wildlife Conservation- By Risidra Mendis Source:Ceylontoday They patrol the thick, dangerous jungles at night, not knowing what they will encounter. They work day and night when required, to save animals with gunshot wounds and those who are seriously injured when they fall into mud pits and wells. Poachers with guns and those engaged in illegal activities are just a few of the dangers they face while carrying out their duties as Wildlife Rangers, Game Guards, and other wildlife officers. They leave behind their families and put their lives at risk when duty calls. Some return alive, while others die in the line of duty. Most often, the names of these wildlife officers are not even known to many, except for a news item mentioning that such an incident occurred somewhere in the country. What happens in the dark, silent jungles at night ...

Aug 19, 2024 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Asian Elephant attacks, Guard K. Manikrala, Ruhuna National Park, Wilpattu National Park, World Ranger Day

Wilpattu National Park | Sri Lanka ...

Dec 8, 2023 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Wilpattu National Park

Baththalangunduwa Island – ideal destination for beach camping – By Arundathie Abeysinghe A tiny island of approximately five square kilometers in size, located approximately 38 kilometers (20 nautical miles) away from *Kalpitiya in the Puttalam District of the North Western Province of Sri Lanka, Baththalangunduwa is popular as a beach camping site. It is an island located in the Dutch Bay (also known as Portugal Bay). Baththalangunduwa is one of the few inhabited islands to the north of Puttalam Lagoon. Battalangunduwa is a fishing village with a population of approximately 3000 inhabitants. The majority of them are Catholics, mostly from *Chilaw and *Negombo with a substantial population of Tamil Catholics from Jaffna. Hence, the culture in Battalangunduwa is a stimulating mix and the language is a mixture of Tamil and Sinhalese, similar to residents of Negombo. The one and only livelihood within the Island is fishing. The Island borders the ...

Jun 30, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Baththalangunduwa, beach camping, Chilaw, Indian Ocean, Kalpitiya, Negombo, Puttalam District, Puttalam Lagoon, Wilpattu National Park

Two nights to remember at Wilpattu National Park-by Lal Anthonis Source:Island It was December 1983 when my friend Lakshman Siriwardhana, known as Lucky, and I arrived at the Talawila lodge in Wilpattu National Park just past noon and found the Park Warden, his deputy and a few other officers having lunch on the verandah of the lodge. A chat with them revealed that they were returning after investigating an attack by a leopard on a boy along the Marichchkaddi-Puttalam road. The boy had been admitted to Puttalam hospital with injuries to his throat. He succumbed to his injuries the next day. Marichchakaddi is a Moslem village where one of the main livelihoods is cattle breeding. Every now and then, one or two of the village lads used to herd a group of buffaloes to be sold in Puttalam. They took an old jungle road that goes through Wilpattu National Park ...

May 10, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Lakshman Siriwardhana, Wilpattu National Park

Kala Oya Estuary – April 2022 Source:Photos.google The Kala Oya, 145 Km in length, is the third longest river in Sri Lanka. The river basin 2,873 sq Km in extent is home to a population of over 400,000. The catchment area of the river which is 1,800 sq Km receives around 3,200 million cubic metres of rain per year out of which around 5 percent reaches the sea. The estuary of the Kala Oya is a bay estuary, as the main stream of the Kala Oya and its tributaries discharge freshwater into the Dutch Bay before entering the sea. The estuarine area includes the brackish water areas of Kala Oya, Dutch Bay and the Puttalam Estuary. The amount of freshwater received is controlled by the water retention capacities of the tank system within the Kala Oya basin. Kala Oya estuary harbours the largest tract of intact riverine mangroves in Sri ...

Apr 18, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Kala Oya Estuary, Wilpattu National Park

Glimpses of Kala Oya Estuary – April 2022 The Kala Oya, 145 Km in length, is the third longest river in Sri Lanka. The river basin 2,873 sq Km in extent is home to a population of over 400,000. The catchment area of the river which is 1,800 sq Km receives around 3,200 million cubic metres of rain per year out of which around 5 percent reaches the sea. The estuary of the Kala Oya is a bay estuary, as the main stream of the Kala Oya and its tributaries discharge freshwater into the Dutch Bay before entering the sea. The estuarine area includes the brackish water areas of Kala Oya, Dutch Bay and the Puttalam Estuary. The amount of freshwater received is controlled by the water retention capacities of the tank system within the Kala Oya basin. Kala Oya estuary harbours the largest tract of intact riverine mangroves in ...

Apr 18, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Kala Oya, Wilpattu National Park

Kalpitiya Fort – Dutch Colonial legacy By Arundathie Abeysinghe Constructed during the Dutch Colonial Era, Kalpitiya Fort had been designed in 1666 and completed in 1676. The walls of the Fort are approximately 4 meters (13 feet) high constructed with coral and limestone from the surrounding area. The Fort has a single entrance facing the lagoon with a pediment and a belfry above, similar to an entrance of a church, a unique feature. Kalpitiya Fort had been a remarkable icon during the Dutch Colonial Era. *Kalpitiya had been a renowned trading hub for Arab merchants. In the mid-16th century, the Portuguese had conquered Kalpitiya and renamed it as “Kardiv Island”. King Rajasinghe II (1608 – 1687) of the Kandyan Kingdom (Sri Lanka’s reigning monarch during this period) had sought assistance from the Dutch to secure the land from the Portuguese Colonials. Yet, after the Dutch invasion of the location, the ...

Dec 8, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Arundathie Abeysinghe Tagged Dutch Colonial legacy, Kalpitiya, Kalpitiya Fort, Kandyan Kingdom, Kardiv Island, Wilpattu National Park

Tourism: Need for ‘colourful stories’ to promote wildlife-by Srilal Miththapala Source:Island Stakeholders in marketing Sri Lanka tourism should be creating colourful stories of the wildlife experiences in Sri Lanka instead of presenting basic facts and figures. We need to create and tell wildlife stories with a humane touch. When a potential tourist calls a hotel or a travel agency to inquire about the wildlife attractions in Sri Lanka, most often the sales staff just give an itinerary and mention the animals that could be observed instead of portraying wildlife in an attractive manner. This would require private sector tourism professionals to have high levels of wildlife experience and enthusiasm, and the message has to go down to the employees who communicate with tourists. Meanwhile, most hotels now have naturalists on their payroll, and such hotels should encourage them to engage in creating stories for tourists to enjoy the wildlife in ...

Nov 13, 2021 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Jet Wing Vil Uyana Hotel, Seenuggala Bungalow, Wilpattu National Park, Yala National Park