Wilpattu National Park
Vast, rugged, and varied, Wilpattu National Park is home to the full range of Sri Lankan wildlife, and conjures the spirit of ancient human inhabitants beside. Leopards and elephants make their home here, but so do a heathy population of sloth bears, who are much more easily seen in Wilpattu than its more popular cousin – Yala.
Perhaps as it is another park that fringes the coast, areas of Wilpattu – particularly the western sections, with dense forests and thorny scrub – are reminiscent of Yala. But there is topographical and botanical range here. Among the definitive features of Wilpattu are the lakes that have formed in basin-like depressions, called “villus”. Some of these are saline, particularly if they are close to the ocean. There is, in addition, grassland and scrub – this northeastern park spanning over 1300 square kilometers.
Wildlife
At least 31 species of mammal have been described in Wilpattu, including the charismatic leopards, elephants and sloth bears. Dugong (sea cows) are also frequently seen in the Dutch and Portugal bays to the west of the park (a little further out to sea, dolphin and whale species are also sighted in substantial numbers).
The villu systems in Wilpattu, however, also support an array of migratory water-fowl, including painted storks and open-billed storks, as well as other wetland species such as garganey, pintail, whistling teal, spoonbill, and multiple variants of ibis, egret, heron, cormorant and darter. The villus that support substantial fish life in particular, are an orthinologist’s dream. But there are also forest birds to be seen, including species of drongo, barbet, flycatcher and bee-eater. Raptors include the crested serpent-eagle, white-bellied sea eagle, and crested hawk eagle.
Ancient ruins
As Wilpattu lies on the northwestern coast where one of the ancient progenitors of the Sinhala race made landfall (or so folklore suggests), Wilpattu is studded with cultural and historic sites. Prince Vijaya, an exiled Indian prince, is believed to have landed first on Kudirimalai Point, which lies about two-thirds up the coastal edge of Wilpattu. Southeast of there, near Kali Villu, is believed to be the palace of Kuweni, the local queen whom Vijaya married.
In Pomparippu, which is not far from the southern entrance to the park,urns containing human remains from pre-Vijayan times have been found. And in other parts of the park, there are ancient Hindu temples, shrines to Muslim saints, an old Catholic church that still draws adherents during its annual feast, in addition to sites of significance for Buddhists.