Minneriya National Park (Sinhala: මින්නේරිය ජාතික වනෝද්යානය, romanized: Minnēriya Jātika Vanōdyānaya; Tamil: மின்னேரியா தேசிய வனம், romanized: Miṉṉēriyā Tēciya Vaṉam) is a national park in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The area was named a national park on August 12, 1997. It was first declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1938. The purpose of protecting the area is to preserve the water collection region of the Minneriya tank and the wildlife nearby. The tank is historically important because it was built by King Mahasen in the third century AD. The park is an important place where elephants live during the dry season, as they come from forests in the Matale, Polonnaruwa, and Trincomalee districts. In the six months ending in August 2009, the park made Rs. 10.7 million in income. Along with Kaudulla and Girithale, Minneriya is one of the 70 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Sri Lanka. The park is located 182 kilometers (113 miles) from Colombo.
Physical features
The area is located in the dry region of Sri Lanka and receives an average rainfall of 1,500–2,000 millimetres (59–79 in). The lowest and highest temperatures in the park are 20.6 °C (69.1 °F) and 34.5 °C (94.1 °F), respectively. The main sources of water for the tank are water from the Amban River and Elahera canal. The wet season occurs during the north-eastern monsoon from October to January, while May to September is considered the dry season. The main habitats of Minneriya include several types, such as low-canopy montane forests, intermediate high-canopy secondary forests, scrublands, abandoned chena lands, grasslands, rocky outcrops, and wetlands.
Flora
Plants such as Terminalia arjuna, Manilkara hexandra, neem (Azadirachta indica), sacred fig (Ficus religiosa), and Piliostigma racemosum are often found near the Minneriya tank. In Minneriya, the most common plants include Chloroxylon swietenia, Vitex altissima, Berrya cordifolia, Diospyros quaesita, and Drypetes sepiaria. Randia dumetorum, crotons, and Calotropis gigantea are frequently found in old chena farmlands and scrublands. Eucalyptus and teak plantations, created by the Department of Forest Conservation, are visible in the park. Monocots and grasses found in the area include Bambusa bambos, Ceylon date palm (Phoenix pusilla), Imperata cylindrica, and Panicum maximum.
Fauna
The national park is home to 24 species of mammals, 160 species of birds, 9 species of amphibians, 25 species of reptiles, 26 species of fish, and 75 species of butterflies.
Many Sri Lankan elephants are drawn to grassy areas near the reservoir during the dry season. The Minneriya tank helps support a large group of elephants. Reports estimate that between 150 and 200 elephants gather there, though some sources say as many as 700. These elephants travel from Wasgamuwa National Park and use the park’s forest for food and shelter. Visitors come to Minneriya to see the elephants, especially during the dry season.
The park provides an important home for two monkey species found only in Sri Lanka: the purple-faced langur and the toque macaque. Large herbivores, such as the Sri Lankan sambar deer and the Sri Lankan axis deer, often live in the park. Rare and endangered animals, including the Sri Lankan leopard and the Sri Lankan sloth bear, also live in Minneriya. The gray slender loris is reportedly found in this area of Sri Lanka.
The Minneriya reservoir is an important habitat for large water birds, such as the lesser adjutant, painted stork, and spot-billed pelican. Many resident and migrating bird species live in the park. Groups of 2,000 little cormorants have been seen there. Other water birds include the great white pelican, ruddy turnstone, and grey heron. Endemic birds in the park include the Sri Lanka junglefowl, Sri Lanka hanging parrot, brown-capped babbler, Sri Lanka grey hornbill, black-crested bulbul, and crimson-fronted barbet. The park is home to 11 species of birds that are at risk of extinction.
Amphibians such as Fejervarya pulla and Polypedates cruciger are found in the area. Eight reptile species native to Sri Lanka live in the park, and all are considered threatened. These include the painted-lip lizard and Lankascincus fallax. Other reptiles in the area are the saltwater crocodile, Indian python, Asian water monitor, and Bengal monitor. Four of the freshwater fish found in Minneriya are native to Sri Lanka.
Threats and conservation
The main danger to the park's forest is people cutting down trees for firewood. This practice could lead to lower water levels in the reservoir. Other human-caused threats include pollution in swimming areas, people moving into the area illegally, illegal farming, overfishing, and hunting animals that are not allowed to be caught. The spread of invasive Lantana camara plants is a natural threat to the area. The park is part of the Minneriya-Giritale Nature Reserve, which was officially established in four steps between 1988 and 1997. Conservation efforts, such as restoring habitats and removing animals from the area, have been suggested to help protect the park.