A Coastal wetland of Natural origin located in the Dry Zone of the Southern province. Kahanda estuary is a branched shallow wetland with a few mangrove islands, comprising 215 ha of mangrove forest. The estuary receives fresh water mainly from the Ranna Oya, which is connected to the Urubokka Oya that has been developed and successfully utilised for irrigation of paddy land. The coastal area has rocky and sandstone habitats that shield the estuarine delta of Kahandamodara. The mangroves provide refuge for mammals such as the endemic Macaca sinica, and two rare cat species (Prionailurus viverrina and P. rubiginosus). Among the reptiles, Varanus salvator is common in the estuary. Two species of endemic amphibians (Rana gracilis and Limnonectes keertisinghei) can be found in this area. The dense mangrove vegetation and branched estuary has made this wetland an ideal nesting and feeding habitat of water birds such as herons (i.e. Ardeola grayii, Ardea cinerea, Nycticorax nycticorax) egrets (i.e. Mesophoyx intermedia, Egretta garzetta) and bitterns (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus. I. sinensis). Among the plants that occur in mangroves of the southern coast, Ardisia willisii, Cerbera odollam, Nypa fruticans, Barringtonia racemosa, Bruguiera sexangula, Mimusops elengi and Sapium indicum is restricted to the Kahanda estuary area. The Kahanda estuary is important for flood control. It is also part of a continuous system of wetlands encompassing the Tangalle and Hambantota Districts. Obeysekararamaya, a Buddhist temple with a 19th century image house is found in the vicinity.

Kahandamodera Mangroves Related references