In 2005 the park was designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, also designated a RAMSAR wetland its home to many migratory water birds in Sri Lanka. The most famous visitor being the greater flamingo’s which arrives in large flocks up to a thousand birds at a time is, making a cacophony of noise with their feeding and covering the entire area of the main Bundala lagoon with a pinkish threadbare carpet, truely a sight to behold.

Yala is the wildlife for Highest Leopards Density in the world also Sloth Bears, Elephant Herds are roaming naturally & freely with their colleagues of Wild Buffalos, Bores, Deer Species, Sambur Elks, Crocodiles, Monkeys, Foxes, Wild Cat Species, Alligators, Reptiles, Mongoose, Turtles, Porcupines and Birds. Block 5” is animal seen area where terrain starts over salty bush land by the side of Indian Ocean then gradually get in to deep Semi Dry Zone Jungle with rugged topography and the River runs with its dramatic sandy banks which are covered by thick jungle of dark forests canopy. Yala specified as one of the “70 Important Bird Areas” (IBA) which final destination for all Birds migrants from Northern Hemisphere and after Yala Kumana & Bundala there is no land until the Antarctica.