Hikkaduwa National Park, Hikkaduwa
Facts and practical information
Hikkaduwa National Park is one of the three marine national parks in Sri Lanka. The national park contains a fringing coral reef of high degree of biodiversity. The area was declared a wildlife sanctuary on May 18, 1979, and then on August 14, 1988, upgraded to a nature reserve with extended land area. The growth of the number of visitors in the next 25 years increased the degradation of the coral reef. To reduce the effects to the ecosystem, the reef was declared a national park on September 19, 2002. ()
Hikkaduwa
Best Ways to Experience the Place
Wildlife
AnimalsSee what popular animal species you can meet in this location.
Dugong
The dugong is a medium-sized marine mammal and the only herbivorous marine mammal, found in the coastal waters of approximately 40 countries across the Indo-West Pacific region. These creatures are highly dependent on seagrass for sustenance, thus confining their...
Mammals
Hawksbill Turtle
The hawksbill sea turtle, a critically endangered species in the Cheloniidae family, is the only extant member of the Eretmochelys genus. These turtles are distributed globally, with populations in both the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions.
Reptiles
Olive Ridley
The olive ridley sea turtle, scientifically known as *Lepidochelys olivacea*, is a fascinating member of the Cheloniidae family. It is the second smallest and most abundant sea turtle species, thriving in the warm, tropical waters of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic...
Reptiles
Blacktip reef shark
The blacktip reef shark is a compelling member of the requiem shark family, easily recognized by the distinctive black tips on its fins. These sharks typically inhabit the warm, shallow waters of tropical coral reefs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Fish
Elkhorn coral
Elkhorn coral, a critical reef-building species in the Caribbean, is easily identifiable by its branching structure reminiscent of elk antlers. This distinctive shape provides essential habitat and shelter for numerous reef species.
Anthozoans
Galle