Flora
The vegetation of the park represents Sri Lanka's dry evergreen forests. Chena cultivation
and grasslands surround the tank area. The community of phytoplankton in the Kaudulla
tank includes blue green algae, Microcystis spp. and diatoms such as Melosira spp.
Manilkara hexandra, Chloroxylon swietenia and Vitex altissima are the dominant tree
species in the forest surrounding the tank. Bushes such as Randia dumetorum, and
Calotropis gigantea and grasses such as Imperata cylindrica, and Panicum maximum
are abundant in some areas.
Founa
The faunal species recorded in the park include 24 species of mammals, 25 species
of reptiles, 26 species of fish, and 160 species of bird.
In the drought period Sri Lankan Elephants move to the Minneriya tank to drink and
feed. Around the month of September the elephants move to the Kaudulla tank in search
of more water and food. Despite the escalating human-elephant conflict, the number
of elephants increased in the dry zone and 211 individuals have been counted in
Kaudulla as recently as 2008.
Sri Lankan Sambar Deer, Sri Lankan Axis Deer, Chevrotain, Wild boar, Sri Lankan
Leopard, and Sloth Bear are other mammals found in the park. Kaudulla National Park
is also one of the sites in which the Gray Slender Loris is reportedly found in
Sri Lanka. Following the discovery of a two month old albino Sri Lankan Axis Deer
calf abandoned by her mother, it is supposed that Kaudulla is probably the only
national park in Sri Lanka to have albino Axis Deer.
Large water birds such as Spot-billed Pelican and Lesser Adjutant visit the Kaudulla
tank. Fish species in the tank include the freshwater Oreochromis mossambicus. Fejervarya
pulla is an endemic amphibian to Sri Lanka that inhabits the National Park. Freshwater
turtles, Indian Flap-shelled Turtle and Indian Black Turtle are the noteworthy reptiles.
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