Yala National Park
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
🐆 Leopards Prowl the Dry ScrublandYala National Park sits on the southeastern tip of Sri Lanka, combines tropical dry forest, savanna grassland and coastal lagoons. The landscape supports a trio of iconic mammals: Asian elephants wander the grasslands and river edges, mugger crocodiles bask on the banks of the park’s water bodies, and leopards stalk the dense forest patches.
6.548° N 81.393° E
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
Leopard
Panthera pardus
★ 
Asian Elephant
Elephas maximus
★ 
Sloth Bear
Melursus ursinus
★ 
Mugger Crocodile
Crocodylus palustris
📊 Most Spotted
Axis Deer
Axis axis
Pearl-necked Dove
Spilopelia chinensis
Common Peafowl
Pavo cristatus
Tufted Langur
Semnopithecus priam
Bengal Monitor
Varanus bengalensis
Ruddy Mongoose
Herpestes smithii
Red-wattled Lapwing
Vanellus indicus
Asian Green Bee-eater
Merops orientalis
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Psittacula krameri
Black-headed Ibis
Threskiornis melanocephalus
White-throated Kingfisher
Halcyon smyrnensis
Indian Pond Heron
Ardeola grayii
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Axis Deer
Axis axis
Tufted Langur
Semnopithecus priam
Ruddy Mongoose
Herpestes smithii
Wild Water Buffalo
Bubalus arnee
Wild Boar
Sus scrofa
Indian Hare
Lepus nigricollis
Indian Flying Fox
Pteropus medius
Sambar
Rusa unicolor
Asian Jackal
Canis aureus
Toque Macaque
Macaca sinica
Stripe-necked Mongoose
Herpestes vitticollis
Sri Lankan Giant Squirrel
Ratufa macroura
📊 Most Spotted
Pearl-necked Dove
Spilopelia chinensis
Common Peafowl
Pavo cristatus
Red-wattled Lapwing
Vanellus indicus
Asian Green Bee-eater
Merops orientalis
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Psittacula krameri
Black-headed Ibis
Threskiornis melanocephalus
White-throated Kingfisher
Halcyon smyrnensis
Indian Pond Heron
Ardeola grayii
Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea
Indian Robin
Saxicoloides fulicatus
Painted Stork
Mycteria leucocephala
Brahminy Kite
Haliastur indus
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Bengal Monitor
Varanus bengalensis
Oriental Garden Lizard
Calotes versicolor
Indian Star Tortoise
Geochelone elegans
Sri Lankan Flapshell Turtle
Lissemys ceylonensis
Common Green Forest Lizard
Calotes calotes
Sri Lanka Bronze Skink
Eutropis madaraszi
Indian Black Turtle
Melanochelys trijuga
Dhaman
Ptyas mucosa
Common Water Monitor
Varanus salvator
Indian Python
Python molurus
Ceylon Bloodsucker
Calotes ceylonensis
Bark Gecko
Hemidactylus leschenaultii
📊 Most Spotted
Chunam Tree Frog
Polypedates maculatus
Common skittering frog
Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis
Indian Five-Fingered Frog
Euphlyctis hexadactylus
Jerdon's Bullfrog
Hoplobatrachus crassus
Common Paddy Field Frog
Minervarya agricola
Common Indian Toad
Duttaphrynus melanostictus
Rohan's Globular Frog
Uperodon rohani
Schneider's Toad
Duttaphrynus scaber
Sri Lankan Bullfrog
Uperodon taprobanicus
Sri Lanka wood frog
Hydrophylax gracilis
Mihintale Red Narrow-mouthed Frog
Microhyla mihintalei
Common Hourglass Tree Frog
Polypedates cruciger
Recent sightings in Yala National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Leopard and Sloth Bear Mating and Foraging Season
During the drier mid-to-late months, vegetation thins out and animals concentrate around shrinking water sources, significantly boosting predator visibility and sloth bear activity around palu fruit trees.
2Migratory and Resident Waterbird Breeding Gathering
The interplay of seasonal monsoons and receding water levels creates rich feeding grounds in Yala's lagoons, attracting large congregations of wading birds and raptors.
3Dry Season Herbivore Concentration
As drought conditions peak, large herds of herbivores gather around the remaining permanent water reservoirs, accompanied by active avian predators.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Leopard and Sloth Bear Mating and Foraging Season
- 2Migratory and Resident Waterbird Breeding Gathering
- 3Dry Season Herbivore Concentration
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
We saw a lot: water buffalo wallowing in the waterholes, elephants, peacocks displaying, storks, a spoonbill fishing right in front of a resting crocodile, sambar deer, spotted deer with big antlers, a mongoose, and more crocodiles.
The few of us who managed to enter the park early saw a leopard as our first animal of the full-day safari.
We’ve seen quite a few crocodiles in Yala, but after a while, we spotted a crocodile crossing the road and another one eating a young buffalo.
We’d travelled halfway across the world… to see an ibis and a crocodile.
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Yala National Park?
The most likely sightings are Axis Deer (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Pearl-necked Dove (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Asian Elephant (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Mugger Crocodile (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Common Peafowl (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers) — among 703 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Yala National Park for wildlife?
February has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see Leopard in Yala National Park?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Leopard sighting in Yala National Park, based on 183 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Asian Elephant in Yala National Park?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Asian Elephant sighting in Yala National Park, based on 303 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Sloth Bear in Yala National Park?
Yes — about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Sloth Bear sighting in Yala National Park, based on 42 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Mugger Crocodile in Yala National Park?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Mugger Crocodile sighting in Yala National Park, based on 321 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
ExcellentHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
ExcellentHow likely to see animals?
Experience
Very goodHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
