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Welcome To Bundala National Park. This is First RAMSAR Wetland In Sri Lnaka. Situated around 250KM south east of Colombo, The 6200ha park Bundala was first declared as a Sanctuary in 1969 and now a national park. And upgraded to a national park in 1992. In 1990, under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance for Migratory Waterfowl, Bundala was declared a Ramsar site, the only one in this country and it is one of around 42 lagoons found in Sri Lanka. In Scots' Directory of Asian wetlands, This unique are of picturesque lagoons and intertidal mudflats where the wintering birds rest and feed, golden beaches and sand dunes frequented by nesting sea turtles and throny scrub jungle where elephant. Deer and wild buffalo roam is also a paradise 149 species of resident and migratory birds. Bundala is the 26th recognized site. Flora and Fauna Sanctuary. Four shallow, brackish lagoons and saltpans interconnected by channels with associated marshes, dunes and scrub. It is the most important wintering site in southern Sri Lanka for migratory shorebirds, regularly holding over 15,000 individuals of various species, and provides habitat for rare and threatened water bird species.It provides a winter home to thousands of greater flamingos as well as over 150 other different bird species. There is also a small population of elephants which are fairly easy to spot in the open habitat. The migration period from August with the commencement of the
harsh winter and continues up to mid - April, when the Southern Hemisphere " attracts " them with plenty of food and
sunshine. The most significant aspect is its 20000 or more shorebirds residing at Bundala from August to April each year. Thayer special value for maintaining the genetic and ecological diversity and regularly support 20,000 waterfowl. Importantly, Bundala is an ideal habitat for birds, both resident and migratory. This bird paradise is also a haven for waders with a total of 197 residents and 58 winter visitors being recorded within the park during the past three years. Among the residents, three are endemic while 10 are nationally threatened. |
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