Wilpattu National Park

Description

The main topographical highlight in this park is the concentration of "villus" or "lakes" within it. Though confined to a particular park sector, the striking feature is extremely varied copper red, loamy soils. The park's western sector with deeply forested areas and thorny bushes are reminiscent of Yala National Park in southern Sri Lanka. It is characterized by inter monsoon rains in March and April, extensive drought from May until early September and a significant rainy season (Northern Monsoon) from September until December. Based on long-term records, the mean annual temperature is 27.2 ° C, and the total yearly rains approximately 1000mm based on long term records.
Three vegetation types can be recognized: Littoral vegetation, including salt grass and low scrub directly near to the beach, a 5-10km coastal belt of monsoon scrub of extremely low stature, and further inland, monsoon forest with tall emergent.
A sum of 31 species of mammals have been reported, but different species of Rodentia and Chiroptera are undoubtedly present. Among the most essential reptiles are common.