Wilpattu National Park (Wilpattu meaning Land of Lakes) is a protected park land located in the northwest coast of Sri Lanka approximately 180 km north of Colombo. The unique feature of this park is the existence of natural water basins which are actually depressions that fill with rainwater, sixty such water basins are found in the park-land. The park covers 131000 hectares, and elevation varies between 0 and 152 meters above sea level. Wilpattu is the largest and one of the oldest National Parks in Sri Lanka. Mammals commonly spotted in Wilpattu are the elephant, sloth bear, leopard and water buffalo. The Sambhur, spotted deer, mongoose, mouse and shrew are spotted rarely but regularly.