Udawalawe National Park – A Wildlife Haven in Sri Lanka

Phone Button

Udawalawe National Park
A Wildlife Haven in Sri Lanka

Udawalawe National Park is one of Sri Lanka’s most important and popular wildlife reserves. It was officially declared a national park on 30 June 1972, following the Udawalawe Reservoir Development Project. The main purpose of establishing the park was to protect the catchment area and to provide a safe refuge for elephants displaced by large-scale development activities.

Covering an area of approximately 32,315 hectares, including the Udawalawe Reservoir, the park is located across the Ratnapura and Moneragala districts. Its strategic position connects several important protected areas, making it a vital corridor for wildlife movement in the region.

Physical and Geographical Features

Udawalawe National Park lies within the Walawe River and Mau Ara drainage basins. The landscape is mainly an undulating plain at an elevation of around 100 meters above sea level, gradually rising to about 373 meters towards the western foothills. One of the most notable geographical features is the Kalthota Escarpment along the northern boundary of the park.

Geology and Soils

Much of the park is underlain by hard crystalline rocks of the Vijayan Series, dating back to the pre-Cambrian era. These include various types of gneisses and granites, with exposed basement rocks visible in the north-western and eastern regions.

The soils of Udawalawe have developed from both residual and alluvial materials. Common soil types include reddish-brown earths, low humic clays, solodized solonetz, and alluvial soils, supporting a wide range of vegetation and habitats.

Climate

Udawalawe National Park is located in Sri Lanka’s Dry Zone. The area experiences consistently high temperatures, with a mean annual temperature of around 32°C. Average annual rainfall is approximately 1,500 mm, mainly influenced by the Southwest Monsoon (April–May) and the Northeast Monsoon (October–November). Relative humidity ranges between 61% and 94% during daytime.

Vegetation and Flora

The park falls within Floristic Region II of Sri Lanka and supports a diverse mosaic of terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Due to historical deforestation and reservoir construction, much of the original forest cover has been altered, resulting in extensive grasslands and scrub habitats.

A biodiversity survey recorded 218 species of vascular plants, including several endemic and nationally threatened species.

Dry-Mixed Evergreen Forest

This forest type forms the remaining closed-canopy areas, with trees reaching up to 30 meters in height. The dominant species include Palu (Manilkara hexandra), along with Weera, Burutha, Ebony, Banyan, and several fig species. Much of this forest is secondary and shows signs of disturbance.

Riverine Forest

Found along the banks of the Walawe River, this rare habitat includes the endemic and threatened Hopea cordifolia (Uva Mandora), the only known dipterocarp species in Sri Lanka’s Dry Zone. Large Kumbuk (Terminalia arjuna) trees line the riverbanks, creating vital shade and shelter for wildlife.

Scrub and Grasslands

Scrub vegetation covers more than 50% of the park, consisting of native species as well as invasive plants such as Lantana camara. Grasslands occupy about 31% of the total area and are dominated by Guinea grass (Panicum maximum). These grasslands are especially important as feeding grounds for elephants and other grazing animals.