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Minneriya National Park

Situated in the vicinity of the giant Minneriya Tank and hemmed in by Kaudulla National Park and Eco Park, Minneriya National Park is where you go for the best chance of finding the Asian elephant in the wild. Between the smaller parks of Wasgamuwa and Kaudulla; Minneriya is part of what is called the Elephant Corridor. The renovated reservoir was once, and still is one of the main irrigation networks in the Polonnaruwa District.

The park is known for its wildlife, but it also has a deep history dating back to the 3rd century during the reign of King Mahasen. This is due to the Minneriya Tank, which was originally built to water paddy fields but now supports the park’s wildlife.

There are 24 species of resident mammals in Minneriya including the Sri Lankan leopard, sloth bears, various breeds of monkeys, the Indian pangolin, a recorded 170 species of birds and 25 species of reptiles and amphibians including the endangered Slender Wood frog.

The Minneriya tank attracts hundreds of wild elephants, an amazing annual event that is now known as the “Elephant Gathering”. Particularly in August and early September, the Minneriya area is inhabited by about 700 elephants. Every afternoon anywhere up to 300 of them come together in the grasslands at the western banks of Lake Minneriya. During the northern summer months (May to September) you can expect to spot at least 100 jumbos at once on a Minneriya safari experience.

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