TravellerHints! Yala National Park is the best place to see Leopards in the world. Also known as Ruhunu Park, this is Sri Lanka’s second-largest and most visited national park located in the south-eastern region of the country in both the Uva and Southern Provinces, right next to the Indian Ocean. The national park consists of five blocks or quadrants, two of which are currently open for visitation (the western block or block one has the highest concentration of leopards in the world) and also has adjoining features to the central park.
Sri Lankan Leopards
Sri Lanka is home to the most significant numbers of wild Leopards in the world. Somehow, according to the wildlife department in Sri Lanka, numbers are declining gradually. Also, magically, Sri Lanka has found a black Leopard a few months ago in central Sri Lanka. The black Leopards were extinct for years in the country.
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Yala National Park Attractions
The park covers nearly 1,000 square kilometers or close to 400 square miles of land, consisting of grasslands, scrubs, forests, lagoons, and tanks. Of course, Elephants here sighting. Well, many Natural Tanks are utilized as a vital hydration resource for the wildlife during the dry season, but actually, date to the ancient days of the Sri Lankan Kings (there are also restored Temples that offer a glimpse into the ancient monastic civilization of Sithulpawwa).
The History
Yala National Park has designated a sanctuary around 1900 and a national park around 1940, but also served as a hunting ground for the British Elite.
Diversity
It is a good thing those hunting days are forgotten because the park is now home to 44 different mammals and over 215 bird species. Most notably, the park is home to Panthera Pardus Kotiya, a one of a kind leopard endemic to the south of Sri Lanka.
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Natural Disasters and Damages
The park’s wildlife also survived the disastrous tsunami in 2004, with no recorded deaths of any of the animals. Tragically, the vicious tsunami did claim the lives of over 250 people in and around the park’s vicinity. A memorial has been constructed at the Patanangala site and is open for visitation. The Yala National Park is a sight to behold and attracts thousands of tourists a year. With that being said, make sure you are booking tickets and tours with the park directly. Well, credible agency beforehand.
Advice For Tourists
Local businesses in and around the park have been known to charge extortionate prices to the unknowing tourist.
Is Yala National Park Worth Visiting?
Well, there are no uncertainties at all that it is worth a visit and is one of the best parks in Sri Lanka. But it is very placed busy. In season it’s jammed. Well, the number of jeeps racing around looking for a leopard can make it a bit of a circus: biggest problems, Sri Lankan like any other Asian country. Safari drivers don’t care about wildlife. Also, many untrained drivers. One driver ran over a Leopard in 2011, and many more incidents have not been reported.
What is the Best Season to See Yala National Park?
Best time to visit Yala National Park
Well, as we know as facts. Do you want to see wildlife? We have to wait for them to come out. So, the best time is the dry season. So, End of Jan throughout Jully is the best, but the season may be going up to August. The Park department of Sri Lanka is closing the park every September to rehabilitation purposes.
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