What role does Udawalawe play in Sri Lanka’s wildlife conservation?

Udawalawe functions as a major protected catchment zone for the Walawe River basin; it also works as the chief sanctuary, protecting the survival of the endangered Sri Lankan elephant, which is the focus here.

After the Udawalawe Dam was built, the park was established to guard the watershed. In practice, it stopped the heavy deforestation trend, and it also reduced poaching in the region. With a huge protected passageway and because it cooperates with the nearby Elephant Transit Home, the park lessens human-elephant conflict by nudging the herds to stay within sustainable ecological limits.