MINNERIYA NATIONAL PARK SRI LANKA#AS STUDIO SL BLOGS#
Channel: AS STUDIO SL BLOGS
Date: 19/01/2021

Minneriya National Park (Sinhala: මින්නේරිය ජාතික වනෝද්‍යානය, romanized: Minnēriya Jātika Vanōdyānaya; Tamil: மின்னேரியா தேசிய வனம், romanized: Miṉṉēriyā Tēciya Vaṉam) is a national park in North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The area was designated as a national park on 12 August 1997, having been originally declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1938.[1] The reason for declaring the area as protected is to protect the catchment of Minneriya tank and the wildlife of the surrounding area. The tank is of historical importance, having been built by King Mahasen in the third century AD. The park is a dry season feeding ground for the elephant population dwelling in forests of Matale, Polonnaruwa, and Trincomalee districts. The park earned revenue of Rs. 10.7 million in the six months ending in August 2009.[2] Along with Kaudulla and Girithale, Minneriya forms one of the 70 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) of Sri Lanka.[3] The park is situated 182 kilometers (113 mi) from Colombo.

Physical features

The area is situated in the dry zone of Sri Lanka and receives an average rainfall of 1,500–2,000 millimeters (59–79 in).[1] The lowest temperature and highest of the park are 20.6 °C (69.1 °F) and 34.5 °C (94.1 °F) respectively.[4] The main sources of water for the tank are a diversion of the Amban River and the Elahera canal. The wet season lasts during the northeastern monsoon from October to January and from May to September considered as the dry season. The main habitats of Minneriya are of several types, including low-canopy montane forests, intermediate high-canopy secondary forests, scrublands, abandoned chena lands, grasslands, rocky outcrops, and wetlands.

Flora
Terminalia arjuna, Manilkara hexandra, neem (Azadirachta indica), sacred fig (Ficus religiosa), and Piliostigma racemosum are commonly found in the area around the Minneriya tank.[1] Chloroxylon swietenia, Vitex altissimo, Berrya cordifolia, Diospyros quaesita, and Drypetes sepiaria are dominant plant species in Minneriya.[4] Randia dumetorum, crotons, and Calotropis gigantea are common in abandoned chena cultivations and scrublands. Plantations of eucalyptus and teak, established by the Department of Forest Conservation, can be seen within the park. Monocots and grass species include Bambusa bambos, Ceylon date palm (Phoenix pusilla), Imperata cylindrica, and Panicum maximum.

Elephant gathering
Large numbers of Sri Lankan elephants are attracted to grass fields on the edges of the reservoir during the dry season.[1] The Minneriya tank contributes to sustain a large herd. Elephants gathered here is numbering around 150–200.[4] Some reports account number of elephants to as high as 700.[5] They migrate here from Wasgamuwa National Park and benefit from food and shelter of the park's forest. Tourists visit Minneriya largely because of elephants, especially in dry season.