A Villu at Wilpattu

A Villu is a water hole very often frequented by animals. The term villu is used for water holes only at Wilpattu. As this picture indicates there is only a small amount of water, indicating that it has not rained in a long time, as generally these villus have a very large water carrying capacity.

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Captured animals brought to the wilderness

These two animals were animals captured from individual's homes by the Department of Wildlife as it is illegal to have them in ones homes. They seem to have adjusted well. These pictures were taken in 2004 when we were camping in that viscinity, that is at Maradanmaduwa. The Sambhur actually did raise a young and although she used to come and ask the people who came there for food, she never exposed her young one. So the young one is rather wild. The deer that you see in the picture managed to join a herd of about 6 other deer. How we knew this was, because when ever our vehicle drove past it was the only one who would come and ask for food and would often come behind the vehicle. Some habits never die!!!

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Wilpattu National Park closed

It is so depressing even to think about what happened in Wilpattu. Yes, I am talking about the 3 pressure mines that were set up by the LTTE to target poor innocent civilians in order to ensure that the park will be closed to carry out their activities. Wilpattu was closed earlier for about 17 years owing to the same problem when terrorists massacred some 23 odd people all park personnel. It was opened about 3 years ago and the amount of hard work that went into opening the park only to be closed again. Wilpattu is 2nd on the list of my favourite national parks, 1st being Kumana which is said to have LTTE camps in it as well. Therefore our trips will be rather limited which is a very sad thing. Wilpattu was just beginning to regain its former glory of being able to see leopard upfront and personal, now all that will be lost again. You can read more about the story at the following

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