Bundala

Bundala is a protected area located on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, in the Hambantota District of the Southern Province. The site comprises a network of brackish lagoons, salt pans, swamps, tidal channels, and patches of scrub and mangrove, forming a rich coastal wetland landscape shaped by tidal processes and monsoonal rains.

The park is best known for its birdlife. It hosts large numbers of migratory and resident water birds, including flamingos, pelicans, stilts, and various herons and waders. Overall, Bundala supports a diverse avifauna with hundreds of species recorded, making it a popular destination for birdwatching. In addition to birds, the area is furnished with reptiles such as crocodiles and monitor lizards, and mammals adapted to wetland habitats. Vegetation ranges from mangrove stands to saline scrub and reed beds, creating a mosaic of habitats for wildlife.

Protection and management: Bundala was established as a wildlife sanctuary and later redesignated as a national park. It falls under the protection of Sri Lanka’s Department of Wildlife Conservation and is managed to conserve its aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity while supporting controlled public access.

Ecological and conservation significance: The park represents an important coastal wetland system in Sri Lanka, contributing to biodiversity, water quality, and coastal protection. It attracts researchers and conservationists and is a featured site in regional efforts to preserve migratory bird habitats and wetland ecosystems.