Strict Nature Reserves
|| Hakgala || Ritigala || Yala (Block 2) ||
Popular Wildlife National Parks
|| Bundala || Gal Oya || Horagolla || Horton Plains || Kaudulla || Lahugala Kitulana ||
|| Lunugamvehera || Maduru Oya || Minneriya || Pigeons Islands || Somawathi ||
|| Udawalawe || Wasgamuwa || Wilpattu || Yala (Ruhuna) || Yala-East (Kumana) ||
|| Flood Plains || Hikkaduwa (Corals) || Angammedilla ||
Popular Wildlife Sanctuaries
Anawilundawa || Bellanwila Attidiya || Gall Oya-Northeastern || Gall Oya-Southwestern ||
|| Mihinthale || Senanayake Samuddraya || Udawatta Kele || Vankalai ||
Popular Biosphere Reserves / Rainforests and Other
|| Bundala || Hurulu || Kanneliya-Dediyagala-Nakiyadeniya (KDN) || Sinharaja ||
|| Hiyare Reservoir Rainforest || Nilgala Forest Area ||
Sri Lanka had an abundance of wildlife in the 1800s. Villagers used to hunt animals like deer, sambur, buffalo, wild boar etc. for their consumption. However, during the middle of that century the government found that there was organized poaching by parties that came to the villages from outside and shot these animals including leopard for their skin and deer for antlers and meat, thereby reducing the animal population steadily.
In addition, the Britishers, who lived in this country, also indulged in hunting, which was one of their favourite sports. This further reduced the number of animals.
The government decided to enact, in 1872, an “Ordinance to prevent the wasteful destruction of buffaloes and game throughout the island”. Game included deer, sambur and peafowl.
In 1894, a group of planters formed the Ceylon Game Protection Society. Their main objective was to assist the government to protect wildlife or game as it was then called. Game was only those animals that they hunted.
Their motive in starting this association was also selfish in that it helped to protect game, which they could later shoot with licences obtained from the government.
They also established Resident Sportsmen’s Reserves, which were solely maintained for hunting by members of the association. Yala and Wilpattu were the first of such reserves. Today these are two of Sri Lanka’s major national parks. Today Sri Lanka has 13% of its land area under protection for fauna and flora.
Depending on their objective, there are different types of protection offered to these areas such as Strict Nature Reserves, National Parks, Nature Reserves, Jungle Corridors and Sanctuaries. They cover all the ecological and climatic regions of the country.
Strict Nature Reserves
No human activities are allowed in these areas and they are protected as a pure natural ecosystem. Research work is allowed under strict supervision and strict guidelines.
The areas under this classification are
Name | Established | Size (Sq. km) |
---|---|---|
Name | Date Established | Size (Ha) |
Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve | 1938.02.05 | 1,141.60 |
Ritigala Strict Nature Reserve | 1941.11.07 | 1,528.10 |
Yala (Block 2) Strict Nature Reserve | 1939.03.01 | 28,904.70 |
National Parks
National Parks are the areas allowed for the public to see and study wildlife. However necessary rules and regulations are introduced to ensure the maximum protection to wildlife and their habitats.
The areas under this classification are (based on Department of Wildlife Conservation Web)
Nature Reserves
Wildlife viewing and studying are not allowed in Nature Reserves. However scientific studies are encouraged under supervision. The Major difference in this category compared to Strict Nature Reserve is, in Nature Reserves traditional human activities are allowed to continue. But this right in not transferable.
Name | Established | Size (Sq km) |
---|---|---|
Minneriya-Giritale – Block 2 | | |
Minneriya-Giritale – Block 3 | | |
Minneriya-Giritale – Block 4 | | |
Nandikadal | 24.01.2017 | 41.42 |
Nargar Kovil | 01.03.2016 | 78.82 |
Nayaru | 24.01.2017 | 44.64 |
Peak Wilderness | 25.19.1940 | 223.79 |
Riverine | | |
Trikonamadu | 1986 | 25.02 |
Vedithalativu (Wedithalathive) | 01.03.2016 | 291.80 |
Vetahirakanda | 07.06.2022 | 32.29 |
Sanctuaries
Protection of the habitats and allowing human activities simultaneously done in the sanctuaries. Sanctuaries may include private lands too. Sanctuaries ensures the protection of wildlife which are outside the state land. It is not necessary to obtain a permit to enter into such areas. However the activities area regulated by the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance (FFPO)
The areas under this classification are (based on Department of Wildlife Conservation Web)
Name | Established | Size (Sq km) |
---|---|---|
Anavilindawa Sanctuary | 11.06.1997 | 13.97 |
Anuradhapura Sanctuary | 27.05.1938 | 35.01 |
Bar Reef Marine Sanctuary (Welipara) | 03.04.1992 | 306.70 |
Bellanvila Attidiya Sanctuary | 25.07.1990 | 3.72 |
Buddangala Sanctuary | 01.11.1974 | 18.41 |
Bundala-Wilmanna Sanctuary | 25.07.1990 | 33.39 |
Dahaiyagala Sanctuary | 07.06.2002 | 26.85 |
Elahera Giritale Sanctuary | 13.01.2000 | 140.35 |
Elluwila Yaya Sanctuary | 11.09.2003 | 1.86 |
Galoya -North Eastern Sanctuary | 12.02.1954 | 124.32 |
Galoya -South East Sanctuary | 12.02.1954 | 152.81 |
Giant’s Tank Sanctuary | 24.09.1954 | 43.30 |
Godawaya Sanctuary | 25.05.2006 | 2.32 |
Great Sober Island Sanctuary | 21.061963 | 0.65 |
Honduwa Island Sanctuary | 19.11.1973 | 0.09 |
Kahala Pallekale Sanctuary | 01.07.1989 | 216.90 |
Kalamatiya Sanctuary | 28.06.1984 | 25.25 |
Katagamuwa Sanctuary | 27.05.1938 | 10.04 |
Kataragama Sanctuary | 27.05.1938 | 8.38 |
Kimbulwana Oya Sanctuary | 21.06.1963 | 4.92 |
Kirala Kele Sanctuary | 08.09.2003 | 3.10 |
Kirama Oya Sanctuary | 06.10.2004 | 0.05 |
Kodigahakanda Sanctuary | 03.10.2017 | 0.1263 |
Kokilai Sanctuary | 18.05.1951 | 19.95 |
Kotuattawala Sanctuary (Kotuaththawala) | 23.02.2017 | 0.35 |
Kudumbigala-Panama Sanctuary | 20.02.2006 | 65.34 |
Kurulu Kele (Kegalle) Sanctuary | 14.03.1941 | 1.13 |
Little Sober Island Sanctuary | 21.06.1963 | 0.07 |
Madampawila Sanctuary | 21.09.2007 | 12.18 |
Maduganga Sanctuary | 17 July 2006 | 23.00 |
Madunagala Sanctuary | 30.06.1993 | 9.95 |
Maimbulkanda-Nittabuwa Sanctuary | 31.10.1972 | 0.24 |
Mahakandarawa Wewa Sanctuary | 09.12.1966 | 5.19 |
Medinduwa Sanctuary | 6 June 1980 | 0.01 |
Mihintale Sanctuary | 27.05.1938 | 10.00 |
Muthurajawela block I Sanctuary | 31.10.1996 | 10.29 |
Muthurajawela block II Sanctuary | 31.10.1996 | 10.29 |
Naval Headwork Sanctuary | 1963 | |
Rekawa Sanctuary | ||
Nimalawa Sanctuary | 18.02.1993 | 10.66 |
Padaviya Tank Sanctuary | 21.06.1963 | 64.75 |
Paraitivu Island Sanctuary | 18.05.1973 | 0.97 |
Paraputuwa Meheni Sanctuary | 17.08.1988 | 1.90 |
Peak Wilderness Sanctuary | 25.10.1940 | 223.79 |
Polonnaruwa Sanctuary | 27.05.1938 | 15.22 |
Rawana ella Sanctuary | 18.05.1979 | 19.32 |
Rock Islands -Ambalangoda Sanctuary | 25.10.1940 | 0.01 |
Rumassala Sanctuary | 03.01.2003 | 1.71 |
Sagaman Sanctuary | 21.06.1963 | 6.16 |
Senanayake samudraya Sanctuary | 12.02.1954 | 93.24 |
Seruwila Allei Sanctuary | 09.10.1970 | 155.40 |
Sigiriya Sanctuary | 26.01.1990 | 50.99 |
Sri jayawardenapura Sanctuary | 09.01.1985 | 4.49 |
Tabbowa Sanctuary | 19.07.2002 | 21.93 |
Thangamale Sanctuary | 27.05.1938 | 1.32 |
Telwatte Sanctuary | 25.02.1938 | 14.25 |
Trincomalee Naval base Sanctuary | 21.06.1963 | 181.30 |
Udawattekale Sanctuary | 29.07.1938 | 1.04 |
Vankalai Sanctuary | 09-09-2008 | 48.39 |
Vavunikulam Sanctuary | 21.06.1963 | 48.56 |
Victoriya randenigala Rantebe Sanctuary | 30.01.1987 | 420.87 |
Weerawila Tissa Sanctuary | 27.05.1938 | 1.34 |
Welhilla Katagilla Sanctuary | 18.02.1949 | 1.34 |
Welipara Sanctuary | 03.04.1992 | 30,67 |
Willpattu north Sanctuary | 25.02.1938 | 6.32 |
Wilmanna Sanctuary | 06.2006 | 33.39 |
Yodha wewa Sanctuary | 24.09.1954 | 43.30ba |