Dehiwala Zoo

Last updated on 01 Jun 2023Show location

The National Zoological Gardens of Sri Lanka, also known as the Colombo Zoo or Dehiwala Zoo, was established in 1936 in Dehiwala, Sri Lanka. The vast zoo area is home to various animals and birds. It is considered one of the oldest zoological gardens in Asia, with a significant collection of animals from around the world. The zoo is accessible by public transportation and is open throughout the year.

One of the unique features of the Dehiwala Zoo is its variety of attractions, including an aquarium, a walk-through aviary, a reptile house, and a butterfly garden. However, it is also home to many small, poorly maintained cages and enclosures where animals are forced to live in prison-like conditions, with limited space and inadequate food and care. Despite the poor living conditions of some of the animals, the Dehiwala Zoo is known for its impressive collection of both exotic and indigenous fauna, making it a popular attraction for visitors from all over the world. Dehiwala Zoo is home to a diverse range of animals, including seventy-two species of mammals, sixty-five species of birds, thirty-one species of reptiles, eighty-nine species of fish, and thirty species of butterflies, among others. The number of animals at the zoo ranges from 2500 to 3000, including breeding and free-living colonies of birds. The lush greenery and well-designed landscaping at the zoo are as much a draw for visitors as the animals themselves. The zoo is committed to animal welfare and conservation and supports the breeding of rare and endangered species.

The Dehiwala Zoo is a popular destination for local and foreign tourists, with over one and a half million visitors annually. The zoo also serves as an educational resource for schools and universities, hosting over two thousand students and groups annually. To keep up with the changing world, the zoo has undertaken major redevelopment projects to enhance its image and provide better facilities for animals and visitors. The Dehiwala Zoo Aquarium is a well-known tourist spot that boasts a significant variety of aquatic life from various ecosystems worldwide. It houses an unmatched range of freshwater, marine, and brackish water fauna and flora. Visitors to the aquarium can observe rare and captivating species such as the Arapaima, the largest freshwater fish globally, and the Lung Fish, which has lungs similar to humans. Additionally, the aquarium is home to Polypterus, a living fossil, giant catfishes, performing sea lions, and penguins worldwide. The aquarium provides ample opportunities for visitors to observe the aquatic life through various viewing facilities. Within the aquarium, different tanks allow public viewing from the sides. The diverse collection of aquatic life includes more than one hundred fish species, invertebrates, and aquatic plants, which are presented in conditions that closely resemble their natural habitat. The living aquatic species are displayed in a natural and landscaped environment illuminated by lights during the night, providing visitors with a memorable educational experience and a delightful encounter with the wonders of the aquatic world.