It is located in the south east of the Island, besides the Bundala Bird Sanctuary and the Yala National Park, the oldest known National Park in the world. Kumana National Park is an Internationally important wintering ground for migratory water birds in Sri Lanka. Kumana harbors more than 197 species of birds including migrating greater Flamingo, which migrate in large flocks to take a well deserved break from flying across long distances of the seas, bays and the Indian Ocean. Kumana N.P. is an amazing maze of lakes, estuaries, lagoons, ponds, dunes & waterways which attract birds on inter-continental flights. During sunrise & sunset these wetland waters glitter almost like gold which attracts photographers & travelers. It is home for the insignificant little bee-eaters to grotesque open-billed storks. Birds come all the way from Siberia & Mongolia and India to winter here in this Park. It is also home for civets, giant squirrels and plenty of crocodiles. Marine turtles including ‘olive ridley’, ‘green leatherback’ & ‘loggerhead’ lay their eggs on the coast of Kumana. Many big mammals such as hippopotamus, wild buffalo & elephants live side by side with the two legged ones.