Abstract:
Minneriya National Park, located in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province, is
internationally renowned for the annual elephant gathering, one of the world’s largest
wildlife spectacles. However, increasing tourist arrivals have led to severe
overcrowding, frequently surpassing the park’s ecological carrying capacity and
creating significant management, ecological, and social challenges. This study aims
to identify the key issues and challenges faced by park management during peak
visitation periods and to examine the role of park officers in mitigating these
pressures. A qualitative research approach was adopted, involving thirty in-depth,
semi-structured interviews with park officers and local visitors selected through
purposive stratified sampling. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis, which
revealed three major categories of concern: wildlife disturbance, visitor behavior and
safety, and operational and infrastructure issues. Wildlife-related challenges included
disruption to elephant behavior, noise pollution, and dust caused by off-road vehicle
movement. Visitor-related issues comprised crowding, excessive noise, and unsafe
behavior during photography and encounters with wildlife. Operational difficulties
were linked to inadequate infrastructure, limited parking, and congested road
networks. Based on these findings, the study recommends introducing vehicle entry
limits, zoning regulations, and distance-based viewing guidelines, along with digital
ticketing systems and improved visitor facilities. Furthermore, diversifying
attractions through bird-watching zones, community-based tourism initiatives, and
guided nature walks is suggested to distribute visitor pressure more evenly.
Strengthening local community involvement and sustainable visitor management
practices is essential to preserving Minneriya’s ecological integrity while ensuring a
balanced and responsible tourism experience.
