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KUMANA NATIONAL PARK

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Group membersname Register noRathnayeke RMPCS AG/GT/2012/3503Paranagamage LC AG/GT/2012/3504Dasanayeke RPK AG/GT/2012/3506Jayaweera NJST AG/GT/2012/3507Wijerathna RMCD AG/GT/2012/3508Rajatheja MKJC AG/GT/2012/3509Kajaluxshie E AG/GT/2012/3510Hazzana MRF AG/GT/2012/3511

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content Location of Kumana National Park Importance Biodiversity Threats to the park Conservation

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Location of kumana national park

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391 Km (243 miles) southeast of Colombo on Sri Lanka's southeastern coast

Kumana is neighboring with Yala National Park. Before name - Yala East National park Now –kumana (in 5 September 2006)

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Kumbukkan Oya forms the southern boundary.

Some 20 lagoons and tanks support the extensive birdlife .

The lagoons are shallow with depths less than 2 meters (6.6 ft).

Kumana villu is subject to occasional flood with seawater.

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The elevation of the area ranges from sea level to 90 metres (300 ft).

The mean annual temperature is 27.30 °C annual rainfall 1300mm

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Importance

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Kumana National Park’s name brings grand birds to the minds – because it is addressed as one of the most important bird nesting and feeding areas of Sri Lanka.

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attract wildlife visitors to the park –

its undisturbed, wild, and calm environment

turtles peacefully lay their eggs and where birds walk calmly in the lagoons and tanks.

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Sri Lanka makes the tropical island a major bird watching destination in the world –

Kumana National Park is the most important and most popular bird sanctuary in Sri Lanka.

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As a wetland

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Setup and store sediment helps to hold & store

moisture Carry contaminants

and nutrient Store water

Reduce flood damage Reduce erosion

Recharge aquifer Store ,hold , slowly

release water Maintain surface flow

in river and streams

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Filter and buffer water Uptake nutrients by riparian plants Reduce water quality issues

Maintain biodiversity Create and maintain habitats Maintain high no of individual and species

Create primary productivity Enhance soil development Capture the recycle nutrients

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Biodiversity

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Biodiversity-flora The park's wetland areas are surrounded

by dry zone tropical thorn forest.

The inland forest's flora is dominated by Manilkara hexandra ( "Palu"), Bauhinia racemosa(“maila”) Cassia fistula ( "Ehela"), Chloroxylon swietenia ( "Burutha"), Salvadora persica(toothbrush tree)

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Ehela

burutha

palu

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The dominant tree of the Kumana villu is Sonneratia caseolaris (Crabapple mangrove),

while Typha angustifolia(type of bulrush) is the dominant reed.

Terminalia arjuna(aralu) trees dominate the riverine forests along the Kumbukkan Oya.

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The common aquatic plants of the swamp are colourful Ludwigia spp.,

Nelumbo nucifera (lotus), Nymphaea pubescens (water lily), Aponogeton spp. Neptunia oleracea (Water Mimosa).

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Biodiversity-fauna Kumana Bird Sanctuary, declared in 1938 255 species of birds have been recorded in

the national park.

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During April–July months tens of thousands of birds migrate to the Kumana swamp area annually.

Rare species such as Black-necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Eurasian Spoonbill, and Great Thick-knee are breeding

inhabitants of the Kumana villu.

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Waders belonging to families Scolopacidae and Charadriidae are among the visitors to the area along with waterfowl.

Pintail Snipes migrate here flying 9,000 kilometres to 11,000 kilometres from Siberia.

the bird species migrate here, White-breasted Waterhen, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Glossy Ibis, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Little Egret, Little Grebe

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Among the rare birds that migrate to the swap include Yellow-footed Green

Pigeon, Malabar Trogon, Red-faced Malkoha, Sirkeer Malkoha. Pacific Golden Plover, Lesser Sand Plover,

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Tilapia and Mullet are the commonly fish varieties in the area while Channa spp. are also caught occasionally.

Mugger Crocodile, Indian Flap-shelled Turtle and Indian Black Turtle are the common reptiles inhabiting the park.

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Mammals such as Golden Jackal, Wild Boar, Sri Lankan Elephant, European Otter, and Fishing Cat also visit the swamp to feed.

The number of elephants traveling in the Kumana is estimated at 30–40

Golden JackalWild Boar

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Threats to the park

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The number of birds observed in the national park has fallen in recent years.

The main threats to the park, Poaching, gem mining,  Gems are mined along the Menik River and

holes created by gem mining which extend up to 30 m can be seen along the Kumbukkan Oya

logging, encroachment by agriculture,

chena cultivation  burning

free-roaming domestic livestock entering

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other conservation issues Cultivation of tobacco the uncontrolled tourism

 noise and air pollutions commercialization tourism’s vehicles harassing wild animals

The growth of invasive alien species such as Lantana camara, Opuntia dillenii, Chromolaena odorata is threatening the native plants.  

The wildlife is poached and disturbed by the fishermen. turtles are caught in fishing nets the fishermen also litter the beach with debris set traps inland and dig up turtle nests

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Impact of 2004 tsunami  The tsunami caused severe but localized

damage on the park The main habitats affected were scrub forest,

grasslands and wetland are directly affected by the tsunami.

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conservation

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Why should be conserved this wetland ?

The site provides feeding and resting habitats for a large number of threatened wetland species.

The site consists of a huge biodiversity . productive coastal wetlands support a

successful near-shore fishery that includes commercially important crustaceans.

The site is famous for its historical values.

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 Department of Wildlife Conservation has taken some conservation measures such as,

management of grazing lands, conservation of small water ponds, irradiation of invasive alien species.  electric fence was erected to prevent

elephants from moving into nearby villages.

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references en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumana_National_Park

http://www.srilanka-expr http://www.explorevacations.lk/about-

srilanka.htm ess.com/srilanaka_National_park.html

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