List of the Most Common Mammals in Yala National Park

 

Yala National Park is home to 44 different kinds of animals, including one of the largest concentrations of leopards in the world, and Sri Lankan elephants are among them. It is believed that twenty-five different leopards are roaming about in Block I. It’s estimated that there are between 300 and 350 elephants in the Yala herd. Yala is home to several endangered species, including Sri Lanka’s sloth bears, leopards, elephants, and water buffalo. The water buffalo is native to Sri Lanka. However, most of the populations have either been mixed with domestic animals or are descended from wild animals.

In addition to golden palm civets and toque macaques, red slender lorises, fishing cats, and other species of lorises, Yala is home to a variety of other mammalian species. Seasonal changes may be seen in the park’s elephant population.

 

Yala National Park’s most notable mammals

1. Sri Lankan Leopards

Without a doubt, this is the most notable animal in Yala National Park. The leopard subspecies Panthera pardus kotiya, more commonly known as the Sri Lankan leopard, is endemic to Sri Lanka. The IUCN has listed this species as endangered because of the many dangers it faces, including the demand for its parts in international commerce and the risk of human-leopard conflict.

There is not a single subpopulation that has more than 250 individuals. In 1956, Sri Lankan biologist Deraniyagala was the first to formally define the Sri Lankan subspecies.

2. Sri Lankan Elephants

The Sri Lankan elephant, which is recognized as one of three subspecies of the Asian elephant, can only be found in its natural habitat of Sri Lanka. With a population reduction of at least 50% over the previous three generations, or the past 60–75 years, the Sri Lankan elephant has been placed on the IUCN’s list of endangered species since 1986. The primary threats to this species are the destruction, deterioration, and fragmentation of their natural habitats.

Unfortunately, the majority of Sri Lanka’s elephant population has been driven to the island’s drier northern, eastern, and southeastern regions. Besides their natural habitats in Yala, Udawalawe, Lunugamvehera, Wilpattu, and Minneriya national parks, elephants may also be found in the wild. Among the Asian countries, Sri Lanka is said to have the highest density of elephants. The development of human settlements and the introduction of permanent farming have increased human-elephant conflicts.

3. Sri Lankan Sloth Bear

Melursus ursinus inornatus, sometimes known as the Sri Lankan sloth bear, is a variant of the sloth bear. Its primary habitat is Sri Lanka’s arid lowland woods. The sloth bear of Sri Lanka eats just about everything. In addition to carrion and meat, its diet includes nuts, berries, and roots. It may also consume roots. The long, hairless nose of this creature is used for foraging, and it relies heavily on the insects it finds in dead trees and tree stumps. It does not normally kill animals. When visiting Sri Lanka, many people go to Yala National Park to witness these rare animals.

4. Wild Water Buffalo

Originally from the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, the wild water buffalo is sometimes known as the Asiatic buffalo or just the buffalo. With a population of less than 4,000 and an estimated 2,500 mature individuals, it has been on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species since 1986. Predictions indicate that the population drop of at least half over the last three generations, or 24–30 years, will continue.

Estimates put the total population at 3,400, with 3,100 (or 91%) residing in India, the vast majority in the state of Assam. Domesticated water buffaloes presumably trace their lineage back to wild water buffaloes.

5. Golden Palm Civet

The golden palm civet, scientifically known as Paradoxurus zeylonensis, is a species of palm civet that is only found in Sri Lanka. It is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) because it only inhabits an area of fewer than 20,000 km2. Unfortunately, its distribution is very fragmented. On the other hand, both the size and quality of the forest ecosystem in Sri Lanka’s hill areas are deteriorating.

6. Red Slender Loris

Small and nocturnal, the red slender loris, also known as Loris tardigradus, is a primate species that is unique to the jungles of Sri Lanka. This mammal species is regarded as the most evolutionarily distinct and most endangered worldwide, ranking #6 out of the 10 focus species and #22 out of the 100 EDGE mammal species. L. tardigradus and L. nycticeboides are the names of the two subspecies that have been discovered.

7. Fishing Cat

South and Southeast Asian forests are home to a variety of medium-sized wild cats, including the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus). Because of the rapid pace at which wetland habitats are being populated, degraded, and changed, the IUCN listed the fishing cat as endangered in 2008. The fisher cat population has crashed over most of its Asian habitat during the last decade.

Along rivers, mangrove swamps, and streams are where you may find the fishing cat. This cat is most closely related to the leopard cat. With its enthusiastic nature and natural swimming ability, it has adapted well to its aquatic environment.

8. Toque Macaque

Known as the rilewa or rilawa in Sinhala, the toque macaque is a reddish-brown Old World monkey that is native to Sri Lanka. The tuft of hair atop its head resembles a toque, thus the name, as does the similar tuft of hair above the head of the closely related bonnet macaque.

Wrapping up

That wraps up our list of the most famous animals that can be found in Yala National Park. On a good day of a Yala safari, you could get to see all of these incredible animals up close and personal. These animals’ peak activity hours span the whole 24-hour day. Since the chances of seeing wildlife are higher in the morning and evening, those interested in seeing it often choose to go on safari during those times.