Minneriya National Park

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

🐘 Sri Lanka's Greatest Elephant Gathering
🌍 #139 Global · 3.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #19 in Asia #64 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

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Asian Elephant ★
EN Endemic

Asian Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Elephas maximus

80–90% · Very likely
Common Peafowl ★
LC

Common Peafowl

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pavo cristatus

70–80% · Very likely
Tufted Langur ★
NT Endemic

Tufted Langur

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Semnopithecus priam

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Pearl-necked Dove
LC Endemic

Pearl-necked Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spilopelia chinensis

60–70% · Likely
Red-wattled Lapwing
LC Endemic

Red-wattled Lapwing

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Vanellus indicus

60–70% · Likely
Brahminy Kite
LC

Brahminy Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliastur indus

60–70% · Likely
Oriental Garden Lizard
LC

Oriental Garden Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Calotes versicolor

50–60% · Likely
Asian Green Bee-eater
LC Endemic

Asian Green Bee-eater

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Merops orientalis

50–60% · Likely
White-throated Kingfisher
LC

White-throated Kingfisher

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Halcyon smyrnensis

50–60% · Likely
Brown-headed Barbet
LC

Brown-headed Barbet

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Psilopogon zeylanicus

50–60% · Likely
Rose-ringed Parakeet

Rose-ringed Parakeet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Psittacula krameri

50–60% · Likely
Toque Macaque
EN

Toque Macaque

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Macaca sinica

50–60% · Likely
Black-headed Ibis
LC

Black-headed Ibis

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Threskiornis melanocephalus

40–50% · Likely
Bengal Monitor
NT

Bengal Monitor

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Varanus bengalensis

40–50% · Likely
Sri Lankan Giant Squirrel
NT

Sri Lankan Giant Squirrel

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ratufa macroura

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Asian Elephant ★
EN Endemic

Asian Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Elephas maximus

80–90% · Very likely
Tufted Langur ★
NT Endemic

Tufted Langur

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Semnopithecus priam

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Toque Macaque
EN

Toque Macaque

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Macaca sinica

50–60% · Likely
Sri Lankan Giant Squirrel
NT

Sri Lankan Giant Squirrel

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Ratufa macroura

40–50% · Likely
Indian Palm Squirrel
LC

Indian Palm Squirrel

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Funambulus palmarum

40–50% · Likely
Indian Gray Mongoose

Indian Gray Mongoose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Herpestes edwardsi

20–30% · Possible
Gray Slender Loris
NT

Gray Slender Loris

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Loris lydekkerianus

Insufficient data
Purple-faced Lutung
EN

Purple-faced Lutung

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Semnopithecus vetulus

20–30% · Possible
Axis Deer
LC Endemic

Axis Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Axis axis

20–30% · Possible
Ruddy Mongoose

Ruddy Mongoose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Herpestes smithii

20–30% · Possible
Asian Jackal
LC

Asian Jackal

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Canis aureus

20–30% · With luck
Schneider's roundleaf bat
LC

Schneider's roundleaf bat

Mammal

Hipposideros speoris

Insufficient data
White-spotted Chevrotain
LC

White-spotted Chevrotain

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Moschiola meminna

Insufficient data
Fishing Cat
VU Endemic

Fishing Cat

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Prionailurus viverrinus

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Common Peafowl ★
LC

Common Peafowl

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pavo cristatus

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Pearl-necked Dove
LC Endemic

Pearl-necked Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spilopelia chinensis

60–70% · Likely
Red-wattled Lapwing
LC Endemic

Red-wattled Lapwing

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Vanellus indicus

60–70% · Likely
Brahminy Kite
LC

Brahminy Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliastur indus

60–70% · Likely
Asian Green Bee-eater
LC Endemic

Asian Green Bee-eater

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Merops orientalis

50–60% · Likely
White-throated Kingfisher
LC

White-throated Kingfisher

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Halcyon smyrnensis

50–60% · Likely
Brown-headed Barbet
LC

Brown-headed Barbet

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Psilopogon zeylanicus

50–60% · Likely
Rose-ringed Parakeet

Rose-ringed Parakeet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Psittacula krameri

50–60% · Likely
Black-headed Ibis
LC

Black-headed Ibis

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Threskiornis melanocephalus

40–50% · Likely
White-Bellied Sea-Eagle
LC

White-Bellied Sea-Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliaeetus leucogaster

40–50% · Likely
Little Egret
LC

Little Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta garzetta

30–40% · Possible
Grey Heron
LC

Grey Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea cinerea

30–40% · Possible
Asian Openbill Stork
LC

Asian Openbill Stork

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Anastomus oscitans

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Oriental Garden Lizard
LC

Oriental Garden Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Calotes versicolor

50–60% · Likely
Bengal Monitor
NT

Bengal Monitor

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Varanus bengalensis

40–50% · Likely
Common Water Monitor
LC Endemic

Common Water Monitor

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Varanus salvator

30–40% · Possible
Common Green Forest Lizard
LC

Common Green Forest Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Calotes calotes

20–30% · Possible
Indian Black Turtle
LC

Indian Black Turtle

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Melanochelys trijuga

Insufficient data
Mugger Crocodile
VU

Mugger Crocodile

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Crocodylus palustris

20–30% · Possible
Bark Gecko
LC

Bark Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Hemidactylus leschenaultii

20–30% · Possible
Indian Star Tortoise
VU

Indian Star Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Geochelone elegans

Insufficient data
Common House Gecko
LC Endemic

Common House Gecko

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Hemidactylus frenatus

10–20% · With luck
Sri Lanka Bronze Skink
LC

Sri Lanka Bronze Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Eutropis madaraszi

10–20% · With luck
Dhaman
LC

Dhaman

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Ptyas mucosa

10–20% · With luck
Common Bronzeback Tree Snake
LC

Common Bronzeback Tree Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Dendrelaphis tristis

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Common Indian Toad
LC

Common Indian Toad

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Duttaphrynus melanostictus

20–30% · Possible
Chunam Tree Frog
LC

Chunam Tree Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Polypedates maculatus

20–30% · Possible
Rohan's Globular Frog
LC

Rohan's Globular Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Uperodon rohani

10–20% · With luck
Common Indian Cricket Frog
LC

Common Indian Cricket Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Minervarya agricola

Insufficient data
Sri Lankan Bullfrog
LC

Sri Lankan Bullfrog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Uperodon taprobanicus

Insufficient data
Sri Lanka wood frog

Sri Lanka wood frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Hydrophylax gracilis

Insufficient data
Common Hourglass Tree Frog
LC

Common Hourglass Tree Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Polypedates cruciger

Insufficient data
Jerdon's Bullfrog
LC

Jerdon's Bullfrog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Hoplobatrachus crassus

Insufficient data
Common skittering frog
LC

Common skittering frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis

Insufficient data
Mihintale Red Narrow-mouthed Frog
LC

Mihintale Red Narrow-mouthed Frog

Amphibian

Microhyla mihintalei

Insufficient data
Indian Burrowing Frog
LC

Indian Burrowing Frog

Amphibian

Sphaerotheca breviceps

Insufficient data
Indian Five-Fingered Frog

Indian Five-Fingered Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Euphlyctis hexadactylus

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
EN Endemic

Asian Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

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
LC

Little Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta garzetta

30–40% · Possible
Asian Openbill Stork
LC

Asian Openbill Stork

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Anastomus oscitans

30–40% · Possible
Black-headed Ibis
LC

Black-headed Ibis

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

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
LC Endemic

Axis Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Axis axis

20–30% · Possible
Leopard
VU Endemic

Leopard

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera pardus

Insufficient data
Fishing Cat
VU Endemic

Fishing Cat

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Prionailurus viverrinus

Insufficient data

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
Asian Elephant
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
90–100
60–70
70–80
Common Peafowl
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
80–90
80–90
60–70
60–70
80–90
70–80
80–90
Tufted Langur
40–50
30–40
10–20
70–80
40–50
20–30
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
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
Brahminy Kite
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
50–60
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
Toque Macaque
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
10–20
40–50
50–60
50–60
30–40
50–60
70–80
10–20
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
Bengal Monitor
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
20–30
30–40
40–50
30–40
50–60
40–50
30–40
Sri Lankan Giant Squirrel
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
20–30
20–30
30–40
40–50
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

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
3.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
384
🐒 Mammals
90
🦎 Reptiles
96
🐸 Amphibians
27
597 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
45 Threatened 3 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
61%
📊
Coverage (181 species at ≥5% of 597 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
30%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (8 bird, 3 mammal, 1 reptile)
46% Global avg
65%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 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)
15 Global avg
21
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
17

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Minneriya National Park?

The most likely sightings are Asian Elephant (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Common Peafowl (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Pearl-necked Dove (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Red-wattled Lapwing (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Brahminy Kite (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 597 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Minneriya National Park for wildlife?

July 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 Asian Elephant in Minneriya National Park?

Yes — about 82% of wildlife watchers report a Asian Elephant sighting in Minneriya National Park, based on 111 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Common Peafowl in Minneriya National Park?

Yes — about 72% of wildlife watchers report a Common Peafowl sighting in Minneriya National Park, based on 148 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Tufted Langur in Minneriya National Park?

Yes — about 54% of wildlife watchers report a Tufted Langur sighting in Minneriya National Park, based on 35 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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