Bundala National Park
Bundala is a national park located in Sri Lanka. It is located 246 km away. from the capital of this country, Colombo. This natural site, which has had international status since 1990, is a real ecosystem, home to hundreds of different species of birds that come to these regions for the winter, or permanently reside.
The total area of the reserve is approximately 250 km2, of which about 62 km2 is protected. The area was declared a nature reserve in 1969, and became a national park in 1993. Later, in 2005, Bundala was added to the UNESCO lists and given the status of a biosphere reserve - the fourth in the whole of Sri Lanka.
The state Reserve occupies the territory of the Southern part of Ceylon, where there are a large number of islands, lakes and various shoals. On the territory of the park there are four huge lagoons called Bundala, Embilikala, Malala, Koholanka, whose area ranges from 390 hectares to 650 hectares. Near the watery pastures of wild animals, there are beaches of loose sand, green shrubs, dense forests and, of course, meadows.
There are more than 320 species of animals in the Bundala Nature Reserve, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, as well as mammals and birds. Both freshwater and marine fish thrive in the local lakes. You can also see shrimps in the clear lake water. The beaches adjacent to the water in the national park are home to an endangered turtle species. It is also home to two families of scary crocodiles.
But the main reason why this wetland reserve has earned the international title is its conditions, which are so suitable for aquatic birds. Pelicans are looking for food in large columns in the water, storks are cleaning their feathers, marabou are grazing prey, and pink flamingos are admiring themselves. The islands and lagoons are also inhabited by very rare and important species of birds, including ibises, herons, and cranes. Bundala serves as a transit point for flocks of migratory birds. In total, there are about 20,000 birds in the park.
Mammals, including leopards, elephants, bears, buffaloes, wild boars and many other wild animals roam the lands of the Bundala Nature Reserve.
The entire panorama of the park opens from an equipped observation point, from where the islands, lagoons, and local thickets are clearly visible. It's nice to watch the flocks of birds that this protected land is famous for.
