1. 1
On Night Camp
Uda-Walawe National Park (UNP)
National Environmental Forum (NEF)
Field report
May 1st
and 2nd
2009
Prepared by : Tharanga Aluthwattha
Photographs by: Tharanga Aluthwattha
Coordinator: Sujan Ushantha (071-447 7208)
Facilitator: Dileepa Wattegama (071-810 3823)

2. 2
UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK - Paradise for Asian Elephant
Introduction
National Environmental Forum (NEF) has planned a series of Night camp and eco-tours which
is open for any nature traveler. Aim of this concept is to increase the number of environment
and nature enthusiasts in Sri Lanka, provide opportunities for nature lovers especially for
affordable price, Convert obliterate traveling to nature friendly eco tours thereby conserve
environment. The second eco-tour was made to Udawalawe National Park on 1st
and 2nd
of May
2009 especially as training for NEF eco-tourism team.
Source: http://www.srilankareference.org/srilankanature/srilanka_parks/udawalawe.htm
The Udawalawe National Park situated in the dry zone of the country and belonging to
Sabaragamuwa & Uva provinces. The park area is 30,821 ha. The park was established in
1972. The park lies within dry zone and small segment lies within intermediate zone. The long
dry season is characteristic feature. Main source of rainfall is southwest monsoon (May -
September) and mean annual rainfall is about 1520mm. The mean annual temperature is
around 29C.

3. 3
Udawalawe Reservoir in sun set
The aim of this document is to record and discuss the observations made by the team while
camping and in safari.
Habitats
Park consists of dry lowland forest, riverine forest, thorny scrublands, grasslands and
abandoned Teak plantations. One special attraction of the park is the Udawalawe reservoir and
Walawe Ganga (River) in Sun rise
the Walawe River which flows through the park. Uda Walawe Reservoir is a huge man-made
lake (known in Sri Lanka as a 'tank') with a surface area of up to 3400ha (8401 acres), which
provides irrigation for farmlands downstream and generates hydro-electric power.

4. 4
Safari teams at park office. Notice the abandoned Teak Plantation in the horizon
Flora
The main tree species found in the forest area are  Halmilla (Berrya cordifolia)
 Ebony (Diospyros ebenum)
 Ehala (Cassia fistula)
 Kolon (Adina cordifolia)
 Milla (Vitex pinnata)
 Kon (Schleichera oleosa)
 Kunumella (Diospyros ovalifolia)
 Lunumidella (Melia dubia)
 Kumbuk (Terminalia arjuna)
Riverine forest dominated by Kumbuk (Terminalia arjuna) & Mandora (Hopea cordifolia). Mana
(Cymbopogon confertiflorus), Illuk (Imperata cylindrica), Damaniya (Grewia tiliaefolia) and
Daminiya (Grewia tiliaefolia) are found in grasslands & scrublands.

5. 5
Nuga [Fig tree] Ficus bengalensis
Vishnukranthi Evolvulus alsinoides
Fauna
Udawalawe National Park is world famous for its large elephant populations. In this park we
observed elephants at every given time of the day involved in many different activities. Other
than Elephants water buffalo, spotted & barking deer, wild boar,jackal & ruddy and grey
mongoose were also found in this park. According to literature though the leopard, jungle &
fishing cats have recorded in the park sightings are very rare and we were not able to made
such sighting.

6. 6
Table.1: Mammas record in UNP, coloured box indicates the observation during the camp,
Mammal Observed
Elephants (Elephas maximus)
Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor)
Spotted deer (Carvus axis)
Muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak)
Wild boar (Sus scrofa)
Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)
Toque macaque (Maccaca sinica)
Common langur (Presbytis entellus)
jackal (Canis aureus)
Toddy cat (Paradoxurus hermaphroditis)
Ruddy mongoose (Herpestes smothii)
Grey mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii)
Crested Porcupine (Histryx indica)
Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)
leopard (Panthera pardus)
Other thanthese species
Young Male elephant crossing a jeep road
Nocternal Fauna – Animals at night
Only hand full of species was observed at night. Main reason for this was we were very late to
come to camp site and when settle down go for animal watching it was about 11 pm and voice
noise and calls of site inhabitant had gone. The most interesting happening at the camp was the
coming of Porcupine [Itthewa] who was a “Pet” at home and later became a “Pest”. Team had to
made a big effort to protect our supper especially scraped coconut and Pumpkin [Wattakka].

7. 7
An interesting experience was the Porcupine came in to camp site…
Other than this some rats and shrews and bats, Caterpillar and few spiders were observed.
A Caterpillar feeding on unknown Plant leaf
Threats and Problems
Uda Walawe is having problems; illegal settlement and cattle grazing, especially around the
reservoir area, threaten habitat, and relatively large numbers of visitors in their own vehicles
also place habitat and animals (especially elephants) under stress. There is also a sporadic
poaching problem.

8. 8
Appendix
Camping and Safari at Udawalawe NP
Fire without gasoline
What knife – What takka
Experience Vs training OR What U2 do? Set
vee polgema - what all expert at
Towards UNP

9. 9
Age does not matter The team
Jeep as a Lantheruma (Lamp) last night
On our way back…..