Sri Lanka's Wildlife Parks

Island Where the World's First Wildlife Reserves Were Established

Jan 1, 2009 Sanjiva Wijesinha

The arrival of Buddhism from India 2500 years ago brought with it a reverence for all living beings - and a royal decree establishing the world's first wildlife sanctuary

Buddhism came to Sri Lanka in 306 BCE when the missionary monk Arahat Mahinda was sent by the Indian Emperor Ashoka to convey the Buddha's message to his colleague the Sri Lankan king Devanampiya Tissa.

The monk on arriving in the capital city came upon the king hunting deer in the royal hunting preserve. Stopping the king in his tracks, the monk spoke to him about the Buddha's teachings - which among other concepts preaches the sanctity of all living beings. He also informed the king that all mammals, birds and other creatures should enjoy the same right as his people to live in the land.

"The land" said Mahinda "belongs to all the people and animals. The king is only its guardian and not its owner."

Mihintale

Impressed by the monk's words, the king converted to Buddhism. Moreover he renounced the pleasures of the hunt and designated his former hunting preserve as a sanctuary where animals and birds could roam free, being granted royal protection from hunters. Even today, the area in Mihintale which he set aside for the birds and animals remains a designated wildflife sanctuary.

Today, through Sri Lanka's Department of Wildlife Conservation the country's nature reserves like Mihintale as well Yala, Uda Walawe and Wilpattu continue this ancient tradition, allowing tourists to this tropical island off the south coast of India to visit these animal sanctuaries and have the pleasure of watching a variety of wild animals in their natural habitat.

Yala

Yala Natural Park, which is administered by the Department, is conveniently situated about five hour's drive south of the capital Colombo - the picturesque A2 highway that takes one there skirts the palm fringed beaches along the Indian Ocean. Camping within the Park is not permitted - you can either hire a safari jeep with driver or use your own vehicle, but for safety reasons it is essential to take a guide (called a “tracker”) with you on your drives through the park. Tickets may be purchased at the Park entrance.

Kumana

Kumana National Park, situated to the east of Yala, is a paradise for bird-watchers. A highlight here is the 200 hectare 'Kumana Villu' - a mangrove swamp where during the months of May and June a host of water birds such as herons, flamingos, egrets, painted storks, pelicans, spoonbills, white ibis, cormorants and even the rare black-necked storks may be seen.

Uda Walawe

Just south of the central hill country the Uda Walawe National Park - a mixture of scrub jungle, grassland and abandoned teak plantation - is located around the man-made Uda Walawe Reservoir. It is a wonderful place to see elephants as about five hunderd wild elephants live here in large herds.

The copyright of the article Sri Lanka's Wildlife Parks in Wildlife Preservation is owned by Sanjiva Wijesinha. Permission to republish Sri Lanka's Wildlife Parks in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.