Hambantota Bird Park

Hambantota Bird Park (Sinhala: හම්බන්තොට කුරුලු අභිජනන හා පර්යේෂණ මධ්‍යස්ථානය) is a bird breeding and research centre established on the eastern edge of the Nagara Lake in Hambantota District, Sri Lanka. It is claimed to be the largest bird park and research centre in Asia. Presently the park is home to endemic and exotic birds with over 180 varieties and around 3,200 birds. 

The construction of the Hambantota bird park started with the purpose of creating awareness and interest among people in the importance of the conservation of the local and migratory birds in the country. The park was declared open to the public on 27 March 2014 by the then Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse.

Located in the southern region of the island, the park extends in an area of about 35 acres. It mainly consists of six exhibit areas, viz: Wetlands, Wings of Asia, Flightless birds, Macaw and cockatoo zone, and Parrot paradise. The Wetlands area exhibits the diversity of bird life as well as the importance of wetland ecosystems. The Wings of Asia section which is considered one of the largest collections of Asian birds is home to the critically endangered as well as endemic birds of Asia and Sri Lanka. The Flightless birds area is reserved for birds who lost the ability to fly such as ostriches, emus, and rheas while the Macaw and cockatoo zone exhibits popular species of macaw and cockatoo birds. The Parrot paradise houses a large collection of parrots with an impressive showcase of some of the world’s most unique parrots.

The Hambantota Birds Breeding Centre, with the assistance of foreign institutions, breeds endangered bird species and is involved in exchanging rare species with other zoological gardens in the world. It also facilitates researchers to conduct their studies in ornithology. A luxury resort has been built within the park near Nagara Lake to accommodate local and foreign tourists.