Bundala National Park

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Bundala Natinal Park is of high importance for biodiversity within Sri Lanka’s Dry Zone and with respect to its international importance as only  Ramsar wetland in the country which was declared in 1990.  Is an internationally important bird watching area for migratory water birds in Sri Lanka.

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Size / Area
Covers an area of 6216 hectares 

Boundaries
Western - First half of Hambantota Tissamaharama Main road
Eastern - Kirindi oya
Southern - Indian ocean
Northern - Half of Weligatta - Bundala road

History
Bundala was declared as a Wildlife Sacturary on 5th December 1969 (Gazette Notification No. 14,883) and as a  National Park on 4th January 1993 (Gazette Notification No. 748/3). It was designated a Wetland of International Importance at the time of Sri Lanka’s ratification of the Ramsar Convention on 15 October 1990.

Past History

Bundala is an area belonged to the antient city "Magampura". It has a written history of 2500 years.There are ruins of temples and "Stupa"s in the surrounding area, built by the prince Mahanaga (Brother of the King Devanam Piyatissa) who established the region "Magampura". The stone tools of Neolithic age which are found by the escavations give the proofs of human settlements in the area older than 10000 years. The antient records says that the Bundala area was reserved for the elite  of the army of king Dutugemunu and the king Kavantissa. Another rumor says Bundala got its name; in old days a strong man has broken the tusks of an scary elephant which was a terror to all the villagers. ("Bun"- Broken, "Dala" - tusk)
Clear records avilable about the recent human seltllements in the area since 1925.

Physical features

Three topographic zones, ranging in elevation from sea level to 20 m, can be distinguished at Bundala: beach and sand dunes, outer coastal plains with lagoons and inner coastal plains. There are five shallow, brackish lagoons, of which three have been converted into salt pans.

Climate
Bundala lies in the Dry Zone. Mean annual rainfall ranges from 900 mm to 1300 mm, with two peaks periods of rainfall in April–May and October-November, and an extensive intervening dry period between May and September. Mean annual temperature is about 27 0C. Relative Humidity ranges between 76% and 81%. Wind speeds may reach 23 km/hour during the South-West and North-East monsoons.

Bio-diversity

 Bundala harbors nearly 200 species of birds out of which 58 species are migratory birds. Every species of water bird found in the country is said to visit here. The rare black-necked stork and Great Thick-knee are particular birding highlights. It is easy to spot Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Spoonbill, Red Shank, Green Shank, Spot-billed Pelican, Blue-faced Malkoha, Brahminy Kite, Crested Hawk eagle and Brown Shrike, to name but a few. Migrants and vagrants make the journey from as far as Siberia .10,000 shore birds might be feeding at any one time between October and March.
In the scrub jungle is home to herds of elephants. There are permanent resident elephants, also home to  mammals, including leopards, sloth bears, civets, mongooses & giant squirrels, as well as rabbits , though the most commonly seen mammals are the excitable troupes of grey languor monkeys. Also you get to observe here both species of crocodiles existing in the country.
Among the 383 species of plants that have been recorded in Bundala, six are endemic species. Seven are nationally threatened. The prominent species are Weera (Drypetes Sepiaria), Palu( Manikara Hexandra), Satin (Chloroxylon Sweitenia), Kohomba (Azadirachta Indica) and Divul (Limonia acidissima). The dominant scrub is Andara.

Accomodation

Tissamaharama has a range of accommodation. the accommodation near Yala National park is within an hour's drive. Also can find from small village of Kirinda.

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Location & Access

It is located about 250km south east form colombo in the Hambantota District, Between Hambantota and Kirindi-oya.
Use one of the following routes to access Weligatta junction and turn to sea side.
1.Colombo - Hambantota - Tissamaharama road
2.Colombo - Ratnapura - Embilipitiya - Nonagama- Hambantota - Tissamaharama road
3.Ratnapura - Balangoda - Habbegamuwa - Thanamalwila - Debarawewa - Weerawila -Hambantota road
Subsidiary roads also avilable acoross Kirinda from eastern side and acorss Weerawila from North-East.

Map




References

1. http://www.srilankaecotourism.com/bundala_national_park.htm
2. (Sinhala) Senarathna, P.M. (2005). Sri Lankawe wananthara (1st ed.). Sarasavi publishers. pp. 197–198. ISBN 955-573-401-1.
3. http://www.ceylonsights.net/bundala-national-park/
4. http://ridingthebuses.com/2013/06/a-safari-in-yala-and-bundala-national-parks-sri-lanka/
5. BIODIVERSITY BASELINE SURVEY: BUNDALA NATIONAL PARK - Protected Areas Management and Wildlife Conservation Project
6. https://www.lanka.com/about/attractions/bundala-national-park/