Leopards of Wilpattu

5 Sightings

Walas Wala Female 1 - WWFC 1

Locations of sightings

Walas Wala, Borupan Wila to Kumbuk Wila sand patch, Borupan Wila, Kumbuk Wila upper road, Sudu Muwa Wala, Maila Wala

First Sighting

23rd February 2013- 5.50pm.

All sightings of Author & Guests

23rd February 2013 5.50pm at Walas Wala - KG
25th February 2013 2.55pm on the sand patch near Kumbuk Wila Uda Para junction - KG
21st July 2015 at 5.45pm Kattarambu Villu – Indika Nettigama
25th July 2015 8.57am at Borupan Wila - KG
23rd July 2016 at Borupan Junction – Sudeera Bandara
1st September 2016 8.48am at Walas Wala – Malith Patabendige
1st September 2016 at Walas Wala – Hemantha Wimalasena
14th September 7.19am at Walas Wala – Palitha Antony
21st October 2016 7.34am at Sudu Muwa Wala – Tharana Wasalaarachchi
26th November 2016 2.27pm between Borupan Wila junction and Kumbuk Wila – Adheesha Salpitikorala
24th December 2016 2.20pm between Borupan junction and Walas Wala – KG
16th March 2017 7.48am at Walas Wala – Isuru Chathuranga
10th April 2017 7.25am at Walas Wala with two cubs – Hemantha Wimalasena
12th May 2017 7.42am at Walas Wala – Nilamani de Silva
12th May 2017 7.32 am at Walas Wala – Danushka Kulathunga
17th June 2017 6.17am at Walas Wala – Adheesha Salpitikorala
2nd August 2017 8.35am at Maila Wla – Hemantha Wimalasena
9th July 2017 7.05am at Walas Wala – Hemantha Wimalasena
17th September 2017 9.14am on Sudu Muwa Wala road – Sivagajan Arudchelvam
6th October 2017 7.09am Borupan junction – Ismail Salahudeen
14th December 2017 4.03pm at Walas Wala – Enoka Mohotty
23rd January 2018 8.10am at Sudu Muwa Wala – Hemantha Wimalasena
27th January 2018 4.14pm on Kumbuk Wila upper road – Ismail Salahudeen
23rd January 2018 8.10am at Sudu Muwa Wala – Namal Kamalgoda
1st April 2018 9.15am with her single male cub (Walas Wala Leopard 2) at Sudu Muwa Wala – Enoka Mohotty
8th April 2018 12.37pm between Borupan junction and Walas Wala – KG
25th April 2018 1.28pm at Walas Wala – Pathum Neeliya
15th July 2018 5.27pm at Sudu Muwa Wala with her first litter male cub (Walas Wala Leopard 2) – Isuru Dayananda
8th July 2018 between Humbas Wala and Walas Wala - Adheesha Salpitikorala
8th July 2018 at Walas Wala - Adheesha Salpitikorala
24th August 2018 4.20pm at Maila Wala with her cub WWMC 3 – Pathum Neeliya
5th September 2018 on Sudu Muwa Wala road – Adheesha Salpitikorala
6th September 2018 at Walas Wala – Adheesha Salpitikorala
7th September 2018 between Walas Wala and Borupan junction – Adheesha Salpitikorala
16th September 2018 11.47am at Sudumuwa Wala – Balamurali Ellamurugan
16th September 2018 12.42pm at Walas Wala - Balamurali Ellamurugan

8th April 2018 at 12.37pm one Leopard between Borupan junction and Walas Wala. N 08.41495, E 080.02911

It was Walas Wala Female 1 (WWFC 1). She was sleeping on a bent ficus tree trunk. I photographed the leopard from a distance and approached it gradually. She looked in our direction and surmising that we pose no danger went back to sleep. After a few minutes two more jeeps arrived resulting the leopard jumping off the tree and move in to the forest. (with Guide Tissa Ratnayake)

Walas Wala Female 1-WWFC 1 - 8th April 2018 at 12.37pm

24th December 2016 at 2.24pm we drove from Borupan junction towards Walas Wala and spotted a leopard just before Walas Wala. It was a female and was lying on the middle of the road. I stopped the vehicle about 50 meters from the animal to get a few photos for identification. Upon seeing another vehicle approaching from Walas Wala I moved my vehicle a little closer and started to photograph. The dappled light and the white sandy background made photography quite challenging. Unfortunately the other vehicle moved too close and the leopard moved in to the forest. Later upon examining the images I was able to identify the leopard as the Walas Wala Female 1 (WWFC 1). Her looked heavily pregnant with her stomach quite visibly swollen. I was thrilled with this sighting as my previous sighting of this leopard was almost one and a half years ago on the 25th of July 2015 at Borupan Wila. N 08.41485, E080.02942
2.31pm as the leopard moved in to the forest upon being disturbed by a vehicle I expected it to move back on to the road. Thus drove towards Ibba Wala and returned.
2.54pm the leopard was on the road again but was again disturbed by a vehicle that moved too close. After a few minutes it moved back in to the forest in the direction of Borupan Wila pitiya. ( with Bathiya Senadipathy and guide Dinesh Kumara)

Walas Wala Female 1-WWFC 1 - 24th December 2016 at 2.24pm

25th July 2015 at 8.57am, WWFC 1 at Borupan Wila. The jeep drivers informed me that they had spotted a leopard crossing the road following a herd of Spotted Deer between Borupan Wila and Kumbuk Wila in the direction of Borupan Wila. I drove down to Borupan Wila and drove about 4 times along the water body and observed the Spotted Deer emerging from the forest. Careful examination with my binoculars across the villu resulted in spotting the leopard seated at the edge of the water. It was a very brief sighting where the leopard moved towards the water and entered the forest again. My previous sighting of this leopard was on 25th February 2013. N 08.42667, E 080.02098

Walas Wala Female 1-WWFC 1 - 25th July 2015 at 8.57am

25th February 2013- 2.55pm. WWFC 1 seen on the sand patch near Kumbuk Wila Uda Para junction on Borupan- Kumbuk road.
N 8 8.419683, E 80.014883
It was lying on the open white sand. After a few minutes it moved to the edge of the bushes as if it was stalking some prey and settled down again.

Walas Wala Female 1-WWFC 1 - 25th February 2013- 2.55pm.

23rd February 2013- 5.50pm. WWFC 1 was lying on the bund across Walas Wala. N 8.414167, E 80.031033
This was my first sighting of this female leopard and I named her WWFC 1. I photographed her for about 15 minutes and left as we needed to get out of the park. (With guide Saranga)

Walas Wala Female 1-WWFC 1 - 23rd February 2013- 5.50pm.