Hurulu Eco Park

The Hurulu Forest Reserve in Sri Lanka is a thriving eco system with a variety of creatures. It was designated as a biosphere reserve in 1977. The forest reserve is a very important habitat of the Sri Lankan elephant. The animal is known for its migratory behavior and does so especially in the dry season between the forests situated around the area.

The Hurulu forest reserve represents the dry-zone dry evergreen forests Sri Lanka. There are many other protected areas situated around Hurulu Forest Reserve. Ritigala strict nature reserve, Minneriya-Girithale and Mahaweli flood plains nature reserves.

There is no record of the number of people who live in this forest reserve. Cultivation is their main means of living. In Recent times the expansion of human settlements and forest clearance have resulted in a human–elephant clashes. Translocation is the conventional solution taken to solve the issue.

Landscape

The annual average temperature of the nature reserve is approximately around 27.3 °C. And the area receives 1600 mm of rainfall annually. A distinct dry season of three to six months persists during the months April / May to September. The elevation of the area ranges from 90 m to 150 m above sea level.

Important Info:

There are three national parks in the close proximity within that region. They are the Minneriya National Park, the Kaudulla National Park, and the Hurulu Eco Park. All of the three parks are immensely popular among locals and foreigners the world over for their large herds of elephants. Generally, each year during the months of July to September large groups of elephants are found in the Minneriya National Park and then they migrate to Kaudulla National Park during the months October to November due to high rains and lakes getting filled up. Then the elephants move on to Hurulu Eco Park for the final leg of their migration during the month of December to January.

Other National Parks

Yala National Park, Udawalawe National Park, Minneriya National Park, Wilpattu National Park, Wasgamuwa National Park, Kumana National Park, Bundala National Park, Kaudulla National Park, Gal Oya National Park, Kalawewa National Park, Lunugamvehera National Park, Pigeon Island National Park, Hurulu Eco Park, Lahugala Kitulana National Park, Maduru Oya National Park