Lahugala Kitulana National Park

Lahugala Kitulana National Park is one of the smallest national parks in Sri Lanka and is situated 318 km east of Colombo. Officially declared so on 1st October 1980. This park encloses the Lahugala, Kitulana and Sengamuwa reservoirs within its land area, whose waters flow into the Heda Oya. Despite its size, this park is a must-visit for elephant and bird enthusiasts. Renowned for its vast congregation of elephants (around 150). July and August are the best months to visit. Because the elephants gather around the Lahugala Tank, which is their only source of water during those months. The rest of the park’s water dries up.

Climate and vegetation in Lahugala

The annual rainfall of the area is about 1,650 millimetres. The Northeast monsoon continues from the months of November to December. Then the two dry periods last from May to October and January to March. The terrain of the park is flat with occasional rocky outcrops.  The national park’s vegetation is classified into Sri Lanka dry-zone dry evergreen forests. Dominant grass species Sacciolepis interrupta is the main food source for elephants.

Wildlife

Elephants are using this national park traditionally as a feeding ground. A herd of 150 is attracted by Sacciolepis interrupta grass which is common around the Lahugala tank. Other mammals found in the park are Endemic Toque Macaque, Tufted Gray Languor, Sloth Bear, Golden Jackal, Rusty-spotted Cat, Fishing Cat, Sri Lanka Leopard, Wild Boar, Indian Muntjac, Sri Lankan Axis Deer, Sri Lankan Sambar Deer, Indian Pangolin and Indian Hare. Many wetland birds found in Lahugala Kitulana include Great White Pelican, purple heron, Painted Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Anas spp., White-bellied Sea Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Common Kingfisher, Stork-billed Kingfisher, and White-throated Kingfisher. There are records of Spot-billed Pelican, Asian Openbill and Woolly-necked Stork visiting the wetland. The last recorded sighting of the Knob-billed Duck, now thought to be extinct in Sri Lanka, occurred here. Red-faced Malkoha and Sri Lanka Spur Fowl are two endemic birds that occur in the park.

 Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society has initiated a project to establish an electric fence to protect four villages near the southern boundary of the park. Poaching, logging, fuel wood collection, and grazing are the prominent threats to the park.