Located in the dry zone, south of Polonnaruwa and east of Matale, the Wasgamuwa National Park was established to provide a safe haven for wildlife with the launch of the Mahaweli Development Project. The park is noted for its high concentration of the elusive sloth bear, and indeed its name bears testament to this as when translated means “forest of the bear”. Wasgamuwa National Park supports a large population of elephants, and also a sub-species known as the marsh elephant which is much larger and tuskless. Other common sightings in the park include sambhur, spotted deer, wild boar, water buffalo, and the purple-faced leaf monkey, but leopards are not often seen. Of birdlife, the endemic yellow-fronted barbet, racket-tailed drongo, and Sri Lanka trogon are rare species to watch out for.

Written by Jonathan Roelofsz for Travel Lanka Compass