Minneriya National Park

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

🐘 Sri Lanka's Greatest Elephant Gathering

🌍 #137 Global · 3.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #18 in Asia #67 in Tropical Forest

Indian Subcontinent, Sri Lanka 597 spp. recorded

Minneriya National Park is a protected wildlife sanctuary situated in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. Within this tropical dry forest, dense woodlands surround an ancient reservoir that dominates the interior. The landscape shifts dramatically between dry scrublands and lush seasonal grasslands, creating distinct habitats that support diverse local fauna.

8.078° N 80.903° E

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

Asian Elephant

Elephas maximus

80–90% · Very likely

Common Peafowl

Pavo cristatus

70–80% · Very likely

Tufted Langur

Semnopithecus priam

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Pearl-necked Dove

Spilopelia chinensis

60–70% · Likely

Red-wattled Lapwing

Vanellus indicus

60–70% · Likely

Brahminy Kite

Haliastur indus

60–70% · Likely

Oriental Garden Lizard

Calotes versicolor

60–70% · Likely

Asian Green Bee-eater

Merops orientalis

50–60% · Likely

White-throated Kingfisher

Halcyon smyrnensis

50–60% · Likely

Brown-headed Barbet

Psilopogon zeylanicus

50–60% · Likely

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Psittacula krameri

50–60% · Likely

Toque Macaque

Macaca sinica

50–60% · Likely

Black-headed Ibis

Threskiornis melanocephalus

40–50% · Likely

Bengal Monitor

Varanus bengalensis

40–50% · Likely

White-Bellied Sea-Eagle

Haliaeetus leucogaster

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Asian Elephant

Elephas maximus

80–90% · Very likely

Tufted Langur

Semnopithecus priam

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Toque Macaque

Macaca sinica

50–60% · Likely

Sri Lankan Giant Squirrel

Ratufa macroura

30–40% · Possible

Axis Deer

Axis axis

30–40% · Possible

Herpestes edwardsi

Herpestes edwardsi

30–40% · Possible

Purple-faced Lutung

Semnopithecus vetulus

20–30% · Possible

Indian Palm Squirrel

Funambulus palmarum

20–30% · Possible

Ruddy Mongoose

Herpestes smithii

20–30% · Possible

Asian Jackal

Canis aureus

20–30% · Possible

Asian Buffalo

Bubalus arnee

Insufficient data

Gray Slender Loris

Loris lydekkerianus

Insufficient data

Fishing Cat

Prionailurus viverrinus

Insufficient data

White-spotted Chevrotain

Moschiola meminna

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Common Peafowl

Pavo cristatus

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Pearl-necked Dove

Spilopelia chinensis

60–70% · Likely

Red-wattled Lapwing

Vanellus indicus

60–70% · Likely

Brahminy Kite

Haliastur indus

60–70% · Likely

Asian Green Bee-eater

Merops orientalis

50–60% · Likely

White-throated Kingfisher

Halcyon smyrnensis

50–60% · Likely

Brown-headed Barbet

Psilopogon zeylanicus

50–60% · Likely

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Psittacula krameri

50–60% · Likely

Black-headed Ibis

Threskiornis melanocephalus

40–50% · Likely

White-Bellied Sea-Eagle

Haliaeetus leucogaster

40–50% · Likely

Little Egret

Egretta garzetta

30–40% · Possible

Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea

30–40% · Possible

Asian Openbill Stork

Anastomus oscitans

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Oriental Garden Lizard

Calotes versicolor

60–70% · Likely

Bengal Monitor

Varanus bengalensis

40–50% · Likely

Common Water Monitor

Varanus salvator

30–40% · Possible

Mugger Crocodile

Crocodylus palustris

20–30% · Possible

Dhaman

Ptyas mucosa

20–30% · Possible

Bark Gecko

Hemidactylus leschenaultii

20–30% · Possible

Sri Lanka Bronze Skink

Eutropis madaraszi

20–30% · Possible

Common House Gecko

Hemidactylus frenatus

20–30% · Possible

Common Green Forest Lizard

Calotes calotes

20–30% · Possible

Indian Star Tortoise

Geochelone elegans

Insufficient data

Ceylon Bloodsucker

Calotes ceylonensis

Insufficient data

Indian Black Turtle

Melanochelys trijuga

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Chunam Tree Frog

Polypedates maculatus

20–30% · Possible

Rohan's Globular Frog

Uperodon rohani

20–30% · Possible

Common Indian Toad

Duttaphrynus melanostictus

20–30% · Possible

Common Indian Cricket Frog

Minervarya agricola

Insufficient data

Sri Lankan Bullfrog

Uperodon taprobanicus

Insufficient data

Sri Lanka wood frog

Hydrophylax gracilis

Insufficient data

Common Hourglass Tree Frog

Polypedates cruciger

Insufficient data

Jerdon's Bullfrog

Hoplobatrachus crassus

Insufficient data

Common skittering frog

Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis

Insufficient data

Mihintale Red Narrow-mouthed Frog

Microhyla mihintalei

Insufficient data

Indian Five-Fingered Frog

Euphlyctis hexadactylus

Insufficient data

Indian Burrowing Frog

Sphaerotheca breviceps

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

The Gathering of Asian Elephants

JunJulAugSepOct

Thousands of wild Asian Elephants congregate around the Minneriya Tank during the dry season, creating one of the most spectacular wildlife spectacles in Asia.

Asian Elephant

Elephas maximus

80–90% · Very likely

🐦

Migratory Waterbird Flocking

JunJulAugSepOct

The receding waters of the Minneriya Tank attract large flocks of migratory waterbirds, including storks, egrets, and ibises, which gather to feed and breed.

Little Egret

Egretta garzetta

30–40% · Possible

Asian Openbill Stork

Anastomus oscitans

30–40% · Possible

Black-headed Ibis

Threskiornis melanocephalus

40–50% · Likely

🦌

Dry Season Predator-Prey Dynamics

JunJulAugSep

The concentration of herbivores around the tank attracts predators like the Leopard and Fishing Cat, creating intense predator-prey interactions visible to visitors.

Axis Deer

Axis axis

30–40% · Possible

Leopard

Panthera pardus

Insufficient data

Fishing Cat

Prionailurus viverrinus

Insufficient data

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

60–70

70–80

80–90

80–90

60–70

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

90–100

60–70

80–90

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

80–90

80–90

60–70

60–70

80–90

70–80

80–90

40–50

30–40

10–20

70–80

40–50

20–30

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

Pearl-necked Dove

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

50–60

70–80

50–60

70–80

50–60

60–70

80–90

Red-wattled Lapwing

50–60

60–70

50–60

40–50

50–60

70–80

80–90

70–80

70–80

70–80

50–60

60–70

40–50

50–60

50–60

40–50

50–60

60–70

70–80

70–80

80–90

70–80

40–50

50–60

Oriental Garden Lizard

40–50

40–50

60–70

70–80

60–70

50–60

40–50

60–70

70–80

40–50

60–70

60–70

Asian Green Bee-eater

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

40–50

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

30–40

70–80

White-throated Kingfisher

60–70

60–70

50–60

60–70

30–40

40–50

60–70

50–60

60–70

40–50

40–50

60–70

Brown-headed Barbet

50–60

40–50

50–60

70–80

50–60

40–50

30–40

30–40

50–60

30–40

70–80

60–70

Rose-ringed Parakeet

60–70

60–70

40–50

50–60

50–60

30–40

40–50

40–50

50–60

40–50

30–40

70–80

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

20–30

40–50

60–70

50–60

30–40

50–60

70–80

20–30

Black-headed Ibis

40–50

20–30

20–30

20–30

30–40

70–80

80–90

60–70

70–80

40–50

20–30

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

50–60

20–30

40–50

40–50

30–40

50–60

40–50

40–50

White-Bellied Sea-Eagle

20–30

30–40

30–40

20–30

20–30

50–60

60–70

50–60

60–70

60–70

30–40

40–50

Animal Events

🦌 The Gathering of Asian Elephants

🐦 Migratory Waterbird Flocking

🦌 Dry Season Predator-Prey Dynamics

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent

🐘 Sri Lanka's Greatest Elephant Gathering

🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

384

🐒 Mammals

90

🦎 Reptiles

96

🐸 Amphibians

27

597 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

45 Threatened 3 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

3.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

61%

📊

Coverage (180 species at ≥5% of 597 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

30%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (8 bird, 3 mammal, 1 reptile)

47% Global avg

65%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

106

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

14 Global avg

22

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

15

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