This little-visited park is home to 43 mammals – elephants and wild buffalo being the main attraction, and also including spotted and sambar deer, giant squirrel, palm cat, three species of mongoose and sloth bear.

As many as 184 species of bird have been recorded at Lunugamvehera, mostly forest birds and water birds by the reservoir. The only endemics you might spot here are the Sri Lanka brown-capped babble, Sri Lanka jungle fowl, Sri Lanka woodstrike and grey hornbill. Recently the sweet-sounding Marshall’s iora, which has never been spotted in Sri Lanka before, was seen nesting in the park.

There are also a number of amphibians and reptiles in the park, including mugger crocodiles, green garden lizards, water and land monitors, Indian python, Indian cobra and Russell’s viper, as well as many species of frog.

43 species of mammals have been recorded; mostly small mammals. Elephants are the main attraction to this park along with the Spotted Deer, Sambar Deer, Wild Buffalos, Giant Squirrel, Palm cat, Grey, Brown and Striped-necked Mongoose, Sloth Bear and Leopards are also recorded but very rarely seen.

The park is a mix of evergreen forests, grasslands and scrublands and is markedly dry for much of the year with most rain in January and February. The park was founded in 1993 and opened to the public more than a decade later. Overshadowed by its two big neighbours, it is favoured by a sprinkling of travellers looking for a quieter experience.