Kumana National Park (former Yala East) lies on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka and is a treasure trove of bird life guaranteed to thrill bird lovers. Spread over 35,664 hectares of land of Sri Lanka Kumana National Park is blessed with 20 lagoons and tanks which are a major contributory factor to the variety of birds (mainly water/wading species) found here. The Kumana Bird Sanctuary within the park was declared a bird sanctuary in 1938. It is to this that thousands of birds migrate during April to July each year and nest. Other favorite nesting places are the tanks or wewas at Kudawila, Thummulla and Kotalinda
The Park can be visited throughout the year but the best times would be during the first half of the year when the tanks and waterholes would be full. To enjoy the delights of Kumana Sri Lanka accommodation is available within and outside the Park and Mahoora Tented Safari Camp Sri Lanka offering adventure and luxurious camping comfort near the park would be a good choice of accommodation.
Among the most common birds found at Kumana are the painted storks with their fabulous colouring and striking wing patterns, the pintail snipes with its beautiful mottled black, brown and reddish-brown plumage (this bird migrates across 9,000 kms from Siberia to Kumana), common snipes, peacocks, pacific golden plovers, common red shanks, wood sandpipers, little stints, purple herons, lesser whistling duck, spoon billed pelicans, open billed glossy ibis, common moor hens, black winged stilts and white –breasted water hens. The rare black necked stork nests here. Among the rare migrant birds are the yellow footed green pigeon, greater racket tailed drongo and malabar trogons. malabar pied hornbills, green bee eaters and black headed orioles can be seen within and outside the reserve. Parsons’ crane and the white bellied sea eagle can also be spotted here.
Elephants, leopards, golden jackals, European otters and mugger crocodiles live here. Bears too inhabit Kumana National Park but is not frequently sighted and turtles lay eggs on the beach at Kumana.
Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.