Anawilundawa Bird Sanctuary is located in the Puttalam District of the North Western Province of the country. More precisely – it is located between the coast and the Chilaw-Puttalam railway line. The uniqueness of Anavilundava is that it is close to three different ecosystems. Coastal, mangrove, and freshwater tanks are one of the six Ramsar wetlands in Sri Lanka. This unique ecological background has made it an advantageous nest and breeding ground for hundreds of birds.
It is located on 1,397 hectares of forest land and consists of nine lakes. Six giant man-made tanks, namely, Pinkattia, Maradansola, Anavilundawa, Mayyava, Surawila, and Vellawali, and three secondary tanks are connected to each other and operate as one unit. These tanks store water for irrigation and cultivation, and serve as a natural habitat and shelter for 150 species of waterfowl, in addition to several endangered species of fish, amphibians, mammals, and reptiles.
[envira-gallery id=”6407″]Some of the Bird species found here are a large breeding colony of Herons, the Open-bill, Great cormorant, White ibis, Egret, Stalk, Pheasant-tailed jacana, and the Purple swamphen. Twenty species of mammals have been recorded here, including 74 species of Rusty-spotted cat, Fishing cat, the Indian otter, Slender loris, Toque monkey, and 74 species of butterflies. Many endemic and resident birds can be observed throughout the year, and the best time for migrants is between October and April.
Anavilundawa Bird Sanctuary is very popular among bird watchers and nature lovers who come here to identify rare birds, watch their behavior in their natural environment, and engage in excellent photography.
