Minneriya National Park’s Other Animals

The park is an important habitat for Sri Lanka’s two endemic monkeys, the purple-faced langur and the toque macaque. Large herbivorous mammals such as Sri Lankan sambar deer and Sri Lankan axis deer frequent the park. Rare and endangered species such as the Sri Lankan leopard and Sri Lankan sloth bear inhabit Minneriya. Minneriya is one of the areas where the gray slender loris is reportedly found in Sri Lanka.

Birds at Minneriya National Park

The Minneriya reservoir is an important habitat for large water birds such as the lesser adjutant, painted stork, and spot-billed pelican. Minneriya is a dormitory for many resident as well as migrant bird species. Flocks of 2000 little cormorants have been reported. The great white pelican, ruddy turnstone, and grey heron are the other water birds here. Among the endemic birds are Sri Lanka jungle fowl, Sri Lanka hanging parrot, brown-capped babbler, Sri Lanka grey hornbill, black-crested bulbul, and crimson-fronted barbet. The number of threatened birds recorded in this national park is 11.

Amphibians and Reptiles at Minneriya National Park

Among the nine species of amphibians at Minneriya National Park are the endemic and endangered Slender Wood Frog and the Common Tree Frog. Of the 25 species of reptiles recorded in the park, eight are endemic, including the red-lipped lizard. Water and land monitors are also seen here. The Mugger Crocodile can be seen near the tank. Many species of freshwater fish are found in the Minneriya reservoir.

Vegetation at Minneriya National Park

The vegetation of the park consists of tropical dry mixed evergreen forests, abandoned chaparral lands, grasslands, and wetlands. The open grasslands and old chena lands are dominated by the many species of small shrubs.