Kumana is one of the main bird sanctuaries in Sri Lanka’s extreme south eastern coast located within the Yala East National Park. Its abundance of bird life has made it an ornithologist’s paradise throughout the years. Due to its special feature, 'Kumana Villu,' a 200 hectare natural mangrove swamps, it has become a popular roosting place of resident and migrant birds arriving in October every year.

A very unfortunate situation has been aroused in Kumana sanctuary and adjacent areas due to protracted heavy drought since last year. The affected areas include Vileppuwa, Okada Wewa, Thoomulla Wewa, and Kubbukkanoya. These areas have not received rain from last April, and it has caused most lakes and the water holes to dry up.

The Mother Nature has punished the helpless animals in Kumana who are unable to speak for themselves. Even though some of the natural disasters cannot be prevented, the harmful effects caused were held under control by wild life and other authorities for the past few years. The past few months its management was beyond their control due to the war.

Animals in wild mainly the buffaloes, deer and stage numbering 20 to 30 have died of not being able to bare the thirst for months. An elephant searching for water had got stuck in mud and died in the middle of the Rottukulum tank, an officer of the Rottukulum STF camp said. Dead bodies of Buffalos are found lying in the area of Bagure. Animals manage to cover long distances have moved to the other area in order to quench their thirst.

Presently, Wild life officials of Kumana and Ampara are out to provide water by tapping ground water. However lack of resources has put paid to their efforts.

Park Warden Bandula Gunasinghe, his staff and about 200 STF personnel are busy digging holes and filling them water with the help of two bowsers provided by a humanitarian organization to save animals.

However, they say it is extremely difficult to supply enough water to all the animals scattered over a vast area and that they also need the support from the people to work with them to save these animals.

M.S.G Rupasinghe says that they have longer plans to make the dam higher in Pandu Wewa and to remove sediment in order to increase the volume. Also they are planning make other water ponds that can keep these extreme situations under control.