Reef of Ukulhas island flourishes with a wide range of marine life, hence it is very famous among the tourist and local visitors. The reef structure of Ukulhas is composed of relatively high numbers of hard corals such as, Porites, Favia, Brain and different types of branching corals. It is also home to different types of sharks, lobsters, sting rays, eagle rays and sea turtles. Shark species such as Grey reef sharks, Black tip sharks and White tip sharks are commonly sighted in the lagoon and outer reef of the island. Moreover, Nurse sharks and lemon sharks are also sighted around the island. In addition to this, a very rarely sighted shark species known as the Guitar shark are found in the lagoon and reef of the island.
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Likewise, the shimmering blue-green inner lagoon of Ukulhas is also full of marine life. The lagoon is often packed with fishes like Bigeye Scad(Mushimas) Snub nose rudderfish (kirulhiyamas), Bluefintrevally (Fani Handhi), and Giant trevally (Muda Handhi). In the outer lagoonfish species such as Emperor red snapper (Maaginimas), Rainbow runner (Mainiyamas), Black Marlin (Kalhu Mashibaru), Greenjobfish (Giulhu) and Wahoo (Kurumas) are found.
As fascinating as it could get, Ukulhas is also home for few native and migratory bird species. The common birds that inhabits in the island are Grey Herons (Maakanaa), Asian koel (Koveli) and White-breasted Waterhen (Kan’bili).These Grey Herons are usually spotted near the beach areas and sitting by the entrance jetty of the island as their main source of food is small fish. As of Asian Koel they are found in fruit trees as it is their main food. The White-breasted Waterhen are seen coming out of the bushes in the vegetation belt of the island. They also eat small fishes.
Bird species such as Cattle Egret(Iruvaihudhu) and Common Sandpiper (Fin’dhana) are often encountered from the island during Northeast Monsoon. Some of the rarely sighted bird during this monsoon are Whimbrel (Bulhithun’bi), Lesser Noddy (Kuran’gi), Brown Booby (Maadhooni), Common Sandpiper (Fin’dhan), Curlew Sandpiper (Bondana Illolhi), Lesser Golden Plover (Dhushimu)and (Ruddy Turnstone) Rathafai. The common source of food for all these birdsare crabs.
As beautiful and rich in biodiversity it may be, the natural environment of Ukulhas is facing destructions. With natural events like El Niños, global warming and plastic pollution and the attempts for development has brought devastating impacts on the marine and plant life of the island. Coral bleaching, loss of coastal vegetation and frequent and severe beach erosion are all happening within a blink of an eye.
