The Maduganga estuary and mangrove islets are a complex coastal wetland ecosystem situated in the southern part of Sri Lanka. Currently not a protected area, Maduganga has been recognised as a priority wetland for conservation because of its rich biodiversity.
In 1990, the Bundala lagoons of Sri Lanka became the country's first Ramsar site, a wetland of international importance for migratory waterfowl. In 1992, Bundala was upgraded to a National Park. This guide to the habitats, animals and plant species currently present in Bundala National Park stems from a survey on the status of the park's biodiversity conducted by IUCN's Country Office in Sri Lanka. It is hoped that this guide will raise awareness of this important protected area.
The South Asian region can be considered a herpetofaunal "hotspot" with its high degree of species richness and diversity of amphibian and reptilian fauna. Unfortunately, high population density and population growth are putting enormous pressure on the region's natural resources and ecosystems, and as a result five amphibian species and 31 reptilian species from this region are listed as globally threatened in the 2000 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
