Yala National Park
Yala National Park is the second largest national park in Sri Lanka. It is situated in the southeast region of the island in the dry zone. The park is about 300 km fromColombo,the capital of Sri Lanka. Yala park belongs to two provinces in Sri Lanka, namely Uva Province and Southern Province. The park is divided into five blocks and only blocks I and II are open to visitors. The reserve covers 979 km², although only the original 141 km² are open to the public. It was established in 1894 as a Game Sanctuary.
The park is situated in the dry zone of the country which has a long annual rainless period. The main sources of rainfall are the northeast monsoon and inter-monsoon rain during April and May. Mean annual precipitation is 900 - 1300mm and mean annual temperature is around 27°C. During June to October this area has experienced with drought conditions. The daytime temperature then is normally higher than 30°C which is not uncommon in this region. The park was badly damaged by the tsunami of 26 December 2004, with the destruction of the wildlife centre and tourist lodge. Many tourists, including a party of 22 Japanese, died in the disaster, as did several of the national park and lodge employees. It is claimed that no evidence of large-scale animal deaths from the tsunami was found indicating that animals may have sensed the wave coming and fled to higher ground. Now it is again open to the public.
Much of the reserve is parkland, but it also contains jungle, beaches, freshwater lakes and rivers and scrubland. The latter zone is punctuated with enormous rocky outcrops. The range of habitats give rise to a good range of wildlife. Yala has one of the world's highest concentration of Leopards, although seeing this largely nocturnal carnivore still requires some luck.
Engelbrecht
On March 23, 1900 the government proclaimed Yala and Wilpattu reserves under the Forest Ordinance. At the beginning the extent of Yala reserve was 389 square kilometres (150 sq mi) and have extended between Menik River and Kumbukkan River. At that time the reserve have not bear the name Yala. Henry Engelbrecht has been appointed as the first park warden. Engelbrecht was a Boer who served in British Army, later taken as a prisoner of war during the Second Boer War. As Engelbrecht refused to swear the allegiance to Edward VII of the United Kingdom, he was not allowed to repatriate to South Africa. Although he was granted thefreedom of movement within the country, he could obtain his pension only from the Kachcheri of Hambantota. Engelbrecht struck a friendship with Leonard Woolf, then Government Agent of Hambantota. As a result in 1908 Engelbrecht has been awarded the position. He did his duty properly and took care of wildlife and apprehended illegal hunters. However during the World War I, he was imprisoned for supplying meat to a German cruiser, SMS Emden, which has anchored in the waters near Yala, an accusation which proved he was innocent few years after his death.
History
The first zone (Block I) of the Yala National Park established in 1938 and was 14,101 hectares in area. On February 25, 1938 the colonials announced Yala Park as the Yala National Park. The Department of Sanctuaries was established in 1938 and A.D. Wijewardane was appointed its caretaker.
The Block II was opened in 1964 which included 9.31 hectares land area. The third zone (Block III) was established on April 28, 1967 was 40.775 hectares. The Block IV was opened on October 9, 1969 was 26,418 hectares the Block V was opened in 1969 was 6.656 hectares and further 28,905 hectares were constituted as protected area to the Yala National Park.
Kataragama sanctuary was proclaimed May 27, 1928. Katagamuwa area of 1003.6 hectares and Nimalawa area of 1065.8 hectares were proclaimed sanctuaries with effect from May 27, 1938 and March 18, 1993 respectively. Kudumbigala sanctuary hails in serenity and the fragrance of "Seela" spread over Kumana with the blessing of the Kudumbigala temple along with the Okanda devalaya.
Henry Englebrecht, the first Camp Warden (1907–1928) of the Ruhuna Yala Group of National Reserves used to traverse Panama, Okanda, Kumana, Yala, Buthawa, Palatupana, Kirinda, Tissamaharama areas finally arriving at Hambantota where he collected his pay packet from the Government authority & also bought his provisions & other necessities, returning along the same route. In his times the park was proclaimed as forestry land in dry zone area.
Physical features
The area is mostly composed of metamorphic rock belonging to the Precambrian era and classified into two series, Vijayan series and Highland series. Reddish brown soil and low humic grey soil are prominent among six soil types found in the area. Yala is situated in the lowest peneplain of Sri Lanka, which extends from Trincomalee to Hambantota. Topographically the area is flat and mildly undulating plain that runs to the coast with elevation is 30 metres (98 ft) close to the coast while rising in the interior to 100–125 metres (330–410 ft). Yala is situated in the dry semi-arid climatic region and rain is received mainly during the northeast monsoon. The mean annual rainfall ranges between 500–775 millimetres (20–31 in) while the mean temperature ranges between 26.4 °C (79.5 °F) in January to 30 °C (86 °F) in April. It is more windier in Yala, during the southwest monsoon compared to the wind during the northeast monsoon with wind changes from 23 kilometres per hour (14 mph) to 15 kilometres per hour (9.3 mph).
Water is abundantly available after the northeast monsoon, but during the dry season surface water becomes an important factor. The bodies of surface water appear in the forms of streams, tanks, waterholes, rock pools, and lagoons. Waterholes occur at the low lying places while rock pools varying in size are capable of containing water for around the year, hence an important source of water for elephants. For many water birds and water buffaloes natural waterholes are ideal habitats. Such reservoirs are largely concentrated to the block I followed by block II. A quite few number of tanks are there including, Maha Seelawa, Buthawa, Uraniya, and Pilinnawa tanks. Many rivers and streams flow in a southeasterly direction, originate in the highlands of adjacent Uva and central hills. Kumbukkan Oya in the east and Menik River and its tributaries in the west flow across the park providing an important water source in the dry season to wild animals of the park. Normally the streams of the park are dried during the drought season. These rivers and streams exhibits a degree of runoff fluctuations between wet and dry seasons. Kumbukkan Oya discharges seven times as much water than in rainy season than in the dry season. A number of lagoons are situated along the coast line of the park.
[edit]Flora
Yala National Park has a variety of ecosystems including moist monsoon forests, dry monsoon forests, semi deciduous forests, thorn forests, grasslands, fresh water and marine wetlands, and sandy beaches.[5] The area under forest cover mainly consists of block I and rangelands of open parkland (Pelessa grasslands) including some extensive grasslands. The forest area is restricted to around the Menik River while rangelands are found towards the sea side. Other habitat types of the block I are tanks and water holes, lagoons and mangroves and chena lands. The mangrove vegetation in the Buthuwa lagoon, largely Rhizophora mucronata while Avicennia spp. and Aegicerasspp. are less abundant. The vegetation of block II is similar to those of block I, and Yalawela, once a fertile paddy field, represents Pitiya grasslands. The mangroves of block II occur around the estuary of Menik River, which extent to a 100 hectares (0.39 sq mi). The common mangrove plants areRhizophora mucronata, Sonneratia caseolaris, Avicennia spp., and Aegiceras corniculatum. The lagoons of Pilinnawa, Mahapothana, and Pahalapothana are also located in this block.[5]
In the blocks III, IV, and V, forests are more widespread. The canopy of the forest manly contains Drypetes sepiaria and Manilkara hexandraplant species. The Pitiya grasslands are important for grazing animals. The Cynodon barberi is the common grass in Pitiya grasslands whileZoysia matrella becomes dominant near the beach. Among 300 odd floral species are Manilkara hexandra, Drypetes sepiaria, Ceylon Satinwood, Terminalia arjuna, Limonia, Berrya cordifolia, Randia dumetorum, Pleurostylia opposita, Gymnema sylvestre, Bell mimosa, Neem,Banyan, Toothbrush tree, Schleichera oleosa, Vitex pinnata, Indian blackberry, Gmelina asiatica, Carissa spinarum, Euphorbia antiquorum, andAcacia eburnea.[3] In the seasonally flooded areas of block II, a wild species of rice (Oryza sp.) is found. The Glenniea unijuga is an endemic plant species found around the wetlands of the park. The Munronia pumila, Salacia reticulata, and Asparagus racemosus are the medicinal plants.
About 32 species of mammals, 125 species of birds and many reptiles and lagoon fauna species have been recorded in the park.
The forest are dominated with drought resistance trees and shrubs which can withstand with lack of rainfall. Trees are thorny and consist with small leaves to reduce the evaporation. Most of the dry zone forests are secondary forests due to the cultivations 500 years ago, but several patches of old-growth forests are still remain within the Yala National Park.
[edit]Fauna
Of bird species of the park, six are endemic to Sri Lanka. They are Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Sri Lanka Wood-pigeon, Crimson-fronted Barbet, Black-capped Bulbul, andBrown-capped Babbler. The number of waterbirds inhabiting wetlands of Yala is 90 and half of the aremigrants. Waterfowls (Lesser Whistling Duck, Garganey), Cormorants (Little Cormorant, Indian Cormorant), large waterbirds (Grey Heron, Black-headed Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Asian Openbill,Painted Stork), medium-sized waders Tringa spp., and small waders Charadrius spp. are among the common waterbirds. Black-necked Stork and Lesser Adjutant are the rare birds that can be seen in the park. The migrant Great White Pelican and resident Spot-billed Pelican are also has been recorded. Other waterbirds attracted to the Yala lagoons include Lesser Flamingo, and Pelican sp., and rare species such as Purple Heron, Night heron sp., Egret sp., Purple Swamphen, and Oriental Darter. Thousands of waterfowls migrate to the lagoons of Yala during the northeast monsoon. They are Northern Pintail, White-winged Tern, Eurasian Curlew, Whimbrel, Godwit sp., and Ruddy Turnstone. The visiting species mingled with residing Lesser Whistling Duck, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Red-wattled Lapwing, and Great Stone-curlew. Rock Pigeon, Barred Buttonquail,Indian Peafowl, Black Stork, Black-winged Stilt, and Greater Flamingo are among the other bird species. Crested Serpent-eagle and White-bellied Sea Eagle are the raptors of the park. The forest birds are Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Hornbills, Old World flycatchers, Asian Paradise-flycatcher, Asian barbets, and Orioles.
Including Sri Lankan Elephant, 44 species of mammals are residing in Yala National Park.[3] Sri Lankan Sloth Bear, Sri Lankan Leopard, Sri Lankan Elephant, Wild water buffalo are the threatened species that Yala is harbouring.[7] Although Water buffaloes is indigenous to Sri Lanka, most populations contain genes of the domestic stock or are descended from feral stock. Toque Macaque,Golden Palm Civet, Sri Lankan Leopard, Red Slender Loris, and Fishing Cat are the endemic mammals of Sri Lanka that can seen in Yala. The elephant population of the park varies seasonally. The reptile fauna recorded from the park is 46 and 5 of them are endemic. Sri Lankan Krait, Boulenger's Keelback, Sri Lankan Flying Snake, Painted-lip Lizard and Wiegmann's Agama are the endemic species.[3] The coastal line of the park is visited by the all five globally endangered sea turtles (Leatherback turtle, Olive Ridley, Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Hawksbill turtle, and Green turtle) that visit Sri Lanka.[5][3] The two breeding crocodile species of Sri Lanka, Mugger crocodile andSaltwater Crocodile inhabit the park. The Indian cobra and Russell's viper are among the other reptiles.[7] There are 18 amphibians species have been recorded from Yala while Bufo atukoralei and Adenomus kelaartii are endemic to Sri Lanka. In the water courses of Yala, 21 fresh water fishes are found. The fish population in the perennial reservoirs contain mostly exotic food fish Mozambique tilapia. The Stone sucker and Esomus thermoicos are endemic among other species. The Blackspot barb, Olive Barb,Orange chromide and Common Spiny Loach are the common fish species. Crabs and prawns include the fauna in the lagoons of the park. A variety of butterflies species is found here. The Common bluebottle, Common Lime Butterfly, Crimson Rose, Common Jezebel, and Common Mormon are the common species.
[edit]Cultural importance
Yala had been a centre of past civilisations.Demon King Ravana established his kingdom here and having Ravana Kotte, now submerged in the sea, as its boundary. Seafaring traders have brought Indo-Aryan civilisation with them as Yala is situated in their trading route. A large number of ancient although disrepaired tanks are the evidence of a rich hydraulic and agricultural civilisation dating back to 5th century BC.Situlpahuwa, which was the home for 12,000 arahants, is situated within the park area along with Magul Vihara, which built in 87 BC and Akasa Chaitiya, which constructed in 2nd century BC. Agriculture flourished in area during the period of Ruhuna Kingdom. According to Mahavamsa, Kingdom of Ruhuna began to decline by the end of the 13th Century AD. During the colonial period Yala became a popular hunting ground.
[edit]Threats and conservation
Poaching, gem mining, logging, encroachment by agriculture, and free-roaming domestic livestock entering are the main threats to the park.Three wardens have been killed in the clashes with poachers. Gems are mined along the Menik River and holes created by gem mining which extend up to 30 metres (98 ft) can be seen along the Kumbukkan Oya. In blocks III and IV, the encroachment is severe as chena cultivation and burning, to provide grazing in the dry season, collide with the boundary. A large grove of Sonneratia caseolaris is faced with forest dieback in the Menik River's estuary. Cultivation of tobacco, noise and air pollutions caused by uncontrolled tourism are the other conservation issues. The growth of invasive alien species such as Lantana camara, Opuntia dillenii, Chromolaena odorata is threating the native plants. Department of Wildlife Conservation has taken some conservation measures such as management of grazing lands, conservation of small water ponds, and irradiation of invasive alien species. A 40 kilometres (25 mi) long electric fence was erected to prevent elephants from moving into nearby villages.
Gallery
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
Comments
Post a Comment