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Common Name : Great Cormorant     -       Scientific Name : Phalacrocorax carbo       -       Other Name : Maha Diyakawa (S)
Panikkar Villu
10/26/2015
Panikkar Villu
10/26/2015

This is an uncommon breeding resident. This is a wide spread species that is found in Europe, Africa, Asia and Atlantic coast of North America.

It is primarily found nesting in the dry zone. However in recent times this species has started to be seen more in the wet zone and now breeding is also reported from a few localities.

The conservation status of this species is regarded as Near Threatened (National Red List 2012).

This is a species protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance as amended by Act No. 22 of 2009.

I have seen breeding colonies of this species at Anawilundawa and at a location close to the Giants tank in Murunkan. I have seen it at most dry zone national parks such as Udawalawa, Yala, Wasgomuwa, Minneriya, Kaudulla, Somawathiya and Kumana. The highest altitude at which I have seen them so far has been at Teldeniya at 420 meters.

This is not a common species at Wilpattu. I have seen them at Periya Villu and at Panikkar Villu.