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Giles Laurent · CC BY-SA 4.0
Animal of the day

Streak-Throated Woodpecker

පුංචි කාවුරු කෑරලා செதில்வயிற்றுப் பச்சைச் சின்ன மரங்கொத்தி Picus xanthopygaeus

Least concern

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Rusty-spotted Cat
NT Rusty-spotted Cat කොළ දිවියා துருப்புள்ளிப் பூனை Prionailurus rubiginosus
Garganey
LC Garganey நீலச்சிறகு வாத்து Spatula querquedula
Indian Pangolin
EN Indian Pangolin කබැල්ලෑවා எறும்புத்தின்னி Manis crassicaudata
Indian Peafowl
LC Indian Peafowl මොනරා மயில் Pavo cristatus
Rhino-horned Lizard
ENEndemic Rhino-horned Lizard අං කටුස්සා காண்டாமிருகக் கொம்புப் பல்லி Ceratophora stoddartii
Mugger Crocodile
VU Mugger Crocodile හැල කිඹුලා சதுப்பு முதலை Crocodylus palustris
Sambar
VU Sambar ගෝනා கடமான் Rusa unicolor
Sri Lankan Spotted Chevrotain
LCEndemic Sri Lankan Spotted Chevrotain මීමින්නා இலங்கைச் சருகுமான் Moschiola meminna

Legends with names

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Wild tusker · Yala (deceased) Tilak Remembered as the 'gentle giant' of Yala: a senior tusker of about 55 years, thought to be the largest and oldest in the park, who was calm around…
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Ceremonial tusker · 1988 Maligawa Raja The most famous of the Temple of the Tooth's tuskers. He carried the golden relic casket at the Esala Perahera for 34 years, from 1953 to 1986. When…
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Wild tusker · Yala · c. 1991 – Gemunu Yala's best-known wild bull, named after King Dutugemunu and usually seen in Block 1 and along the Sithulpawwa road. He became famous — and controversial — for walking…

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Latest news & articles

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Safari & travel tips · October 20, 2026 The Minneriya Gathering — why, when and how to see it Every dry season, hundreds of elephants gather on the beds of the Minneriya and Kaudulla tanks — one of the largest gatherings of Asian elephants anywhere,…
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Safari & travel tips · October 20, 2026 Safari etiquette — watching wildlife without harming it A safari in Yala, Wilpattu or Udawalawe is unforgettable. But when dozens of jeeps crowd a leopard, or visitors feed an elephant, the animals pay the…

Corals, reefs & marine sanctuaries

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Hikkaduwa National Park
Marine national park Hikkaduwa National Park 6 species
Adam’s Bridge Marine National Park
Marine national park Adam’s Bridge Marine National Park 3 species
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Marine sanctuary Bar Reef Marine Sanctuary 8 species
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