Leopards of Wilpattu

1st April 2023 at 9.30am – 2.47pm two leopards at Eriyakkulampooval. N 08.43872, E 080.00075

It was a male and a female engaged in copulation. Such a pair is referred to by the jeep drivers and guides as a “mating couple”. The leopards had been in the open and mating but had moved into the forest. Many jeeps were parked where they could be heard growling. I parked at a distance since there was no view or possibility of photography. Around 11 am the male leopard moved in the direction of the road leading to Manikrala Uraniya followed by the female. The jeeps that had gathered rushed on to the narrow road. As expected by mid-day most safari jeeps left, I waited until 12.55pm and drove up on to the location where the leopards could be seen. There were only two jeeps left, and they were kind enough to move their vehicles and give me space. I parked the vehicle where the leopards could be seen through the foliage. It was the dominant male in the area Nelum Wila male 5 (NWMC 5) referred to as Neluma and Kumbuk Wila Female 2 (KWFC 2) popularly referred to as Cleopatra. They were lying on the forest floor about 30 feet off the roadside by side and flicked their tails regularly. I was quite pleased to observe the mating behaviour of these cats at such close range. The female initiates the act of mating by walking around the sleeping male with a low growl and caressing him with her body and tail. Then she lowers herself to the floor in front of the male, inviting him to mate. The male does not mount her immediately but shows affection by licking the back of her neck. After few such attempts the male responds by mounting her and mating. Between 12.55pm to 2.47pm they mated every 15 to 20 minutes. Each act of mating lasts for about a minute and ends with loud growls where the female turns and attempts to hit the male with her paw. He jumps off her to avoid being hit with a loud growl.  The estrous cycle of a leopardess is said to last for about one and a half months, and she will remain in heat for 7 to12 days every 2 – 3 months. If she conceives the gestation period is 3 to 3 and a half months. If a cub dies a female will come in to heat in two weeks.  I received reports and images of this female (KWFC 2) mating with this male (NWMC 5) on 29th and 30th December at Kokkare Villu and Demata Wila respectively. Thereafter on the 4th of February she was seen mating with another male, Nelum Wila Male 4 (NWMC 4) at Walas Wala. Therefore, despite mating with this dominant male in December she had not conceived and had come in to heat again in 35 days. Evidently, she had not conceived for the second time in February as 55 days after she mated with NWMC 4 she is now mating again with the same dominant male. I have no information whether she also mated with any other male during this period. If this copulation is successful, she should be having her second litter by June this year.

7th March 2023 at 10.15am We were informed of a leopard on a Madan Tree at Kokkare Villu and decided to go check it out. While on the way at the Thimbiri wila end of Borupan Wila spotted another mature male leopard seated at the edge of the forest. N 08.42697, E 080.02013
It was Nelum Wila Male 5 (NWMC 5) popularly referred to as “Neluma” by the jeep drivers. Having taken a few images, we decided to quickly check the leopard at Kokkare Villu and return as I expected this leopard to move in the direction of the kill.

6th March 2023 at 4.55pm another leopard on Kokkare Villu upper road N 08.41255, E 079.98985
It was a big male leopard and was sleeping about 20 feet from the edge of the road. I managed to get a few images to identify the leopard and left as we had to reach the park entrance by 6.15pm. Later upon examination of the spot pattern I noted that it is the dominant male in the core are of the park the Nelum Wila Male 5 (NWMC 5).

8th January 2023 at 4.15pm one leopard between Mahapatessa and Thimbiri Wila. N 08.42938, E 080.00560

The big male leopard was lying on the road with vehicles parked about 30 meters ahead of him and behind him. Safari jeep driver Sandun was polite enough to move his vehicle which permitted me to get some images despite there being two other vehicles ahead of me. The leopard was Nelum Wila Male 5 (NWMC 5), the dominant big male leopard occupying the main villu area of the park and popularly referred to by the jeep drives as “Neluma”. After a few yarns the leopard moved into the forest.

11th December 2022 at 11.45am an adult male leopard on the Kumbuk Wila upper road. N 08.41842, E 080.00190

It was Nelum Wila Male 5 (NWMC 5), the big male referred to as “Neluma or Nelum Wila big male” by the jeep drivers and guides. I was quite pleased as this is one of the biggest male leopards in the park. He was seated by the side of the road close to Madangaha Wala and vomited before walking towards Kumbuk Wila. I have, on several occasions, observed leopards vomitting by continuous movements of pushing their stomachs upwards and their bodies forwards until it ends up with the cat throwing up. Unlike with humans where, vomiting is associated with sickness, it is a regular activity for leopards and other species of cats. It’s a mechanism by which they dispose of material they have difficulty in digesting, or which gives them discomfort. Cats accumulate large amounts of fur in their stomachs due to licking themselves clean and from their prey which often remain undigested. Thus, they regularly eat grass that has emetic qualities and engage in vomiting to get rid of such material to cleanse their stomachs.

As usual the “Nelum Wila big Male” was quite relaxed and walked with intermittent rests and a short spell of sleeping. Upon reaching a large old Madan tree with a trunk horizontal to the ground he climbed on to the trunk and engaged in scraping the bark with his paws. He was so close to the vehicle I had to use the 100mm macro lens to capture him in the act of scraping. Other than spraying urine and depositing scat, scratching the surface of trees, and leaving scrape marks is a method by which leopards to leave their scent and sharpen/clean their claws.  While lying on the road and licking his paws he was alerted by a small herd of Spotted Deer and looked in their direction but continued to walk on the road. On each occasion he decides to lie down I would bring my vehicle to a hault and reverse when he resumes his walk, keeping an adequate distance. Around 1.06pm with the arrival of another vehicle I decided to leave the leopard and drive towards Kumbuk Wila.

27th March 2022 at 10.15am one leopard walking from Illanda Motte towards Downhall pitiya. N 08.46290, E 079.99114
I followed fresh pug marks of a big male leopard from the culvert at Illanda Motte and
saw him walking towards the Downhall pitiya sand patch. After walking a short distance, he walked into the forest but walked back on to the road within a few minutes and continued its walk without looking at least once in my direction. Having walked up to the beginning of the sand patch he marked a “Radaliya” Connarus monocarpus bush by the side of the road and looked at an Indian Peafowl at a distance but turned back to look at something over his shoulder permitting me get a few images at least of a part of its face. Then walked into the forest. Later upon examining the spot pattern I was pleased to note that the leopard was Nelum Wila Male 5 (NWMC 5) on my site.

12th February 2022 at 8.55am one Leopard at Down Hall Pitiya. N 08.46697, E 079.99055
It was a big male and was lying down on the bed of a dried-up stream. It was asleep and was only partly visible from one point on the road. Having taken a few images, I moved off permitting the others also to get a view of the leopard. It was the Nelum Wila Male 5 (NWMC 5), one of more frequently seen dominant males in the core area of the park.

18th December 2021 at 9.25am one Leopard at Kumbuk Wila upper road. N 08.41565, E 079.99873

The safari jeep drivers told me that a leopard had walked along the road and moved into the forest few minutes ago. It was a big male and was sleeping at the foot of a tree. He was partly visible through the foliage from one spot on the road. After some time, the leopard was alerted by a sound of an animal moving through the forest and lifted its head briefly but was not interested to pursue and went back to sleep again. Prior to keeping his head down, he looked in our direction permitting me to get a few images. It was Nelum Wila Male 5 (NWMC 5), the dominant male in this area. As there were other safari jeeps that arrived, I moved out to give way for them to see the leopard.

23rd October 2021 at 5.02pm one leopard at Kudapatessa. N 08.43115, E 079.99353
We were informed of a leopard sighting at this location in the morning and around 1pm by a few jeep drivers. Around 4.45pm I was parked at Kudapatessa and noted the continuous alarm calls of an Indian Palm Squirrel. As there was no leopard in sight, we left to check out Kuruttupandi but returned to Kudapatessa and spotted a Leopard lying down on the sand patch across the villu. It was big male leopard. In a few minutes he walked across the sand patch back to the forest and started to

6th February 2021 at 9.10am one leopard at Eriyakkulampooval. N 08.43725, E 080.00208

The leopard was lying across the water body on the sandy area between the forest and the water edge. It was a big male leopard. I managed to get a few record images despite the distance. Within a few minutes he stood up walked into the forest. Later an examination of its spot pattern revealed that it is Nelum Wila Male 5 (NWMC 5).

18th July 2020 at 4.46pm one Leopard at Kuruttupandi Villu. N 08.43839, E 079.98236

As drove down to Kuruttupandi to see the leopard move in to the forest at the far left hand side. As we had received information of a “kill” and that a large male leopard was seen at this location the previous day and today morning we decided to wait expecting the animal to move out again. Fortunately for me the leopard climbed on to the lower branch of a Madan Tree and slept allowing me to get a few record images. Its bloated belly indicated that the cat had fed well. It was Nelum Wila Male 5 (NWMC 5). (with guide Lahiru Dissanayake)

20th June 2020 at 1.46pm a Leopard on Kokkare Villu upper road. N 08.41198, E 079.98727

The Leopard was lying on the edge of the road but moved a short distance in to the forest as we arrived. I was pleased to note that this is Nelum Wila Male 5 (NWMC 5). Despite its young age (3 years and 5 months) he has grown in to becoming a large bodied impressive male. He was lying at the foot of a tree but I was able to get a few images adequate enough to identify the animal. A few more jeeps arrived and I left giving way for them to observe the animal. ( with safari jeep driver Gayan)

2nd February 2020 at 7.35am a male and a female leopard at Kudapatessa. N 08.43129, E 079.99345
I was informed of a mating pair of Leopards seen the previous day evening at Kuruttupandi Villu. Thus, I arrived at the park entrance at 2.30am to ensure that I will be the first vehicle to enter the park. We drove down to Kuruttupandi Villu and had no luck but arrived at Kudapataess to spot the two leopards in the nick of time before they moved into the forest. The male and the female exhibited typical leopard mating behavior but did not mate. They walked together in the direction of the sand dune across the villu but thankfully the female stopped and laid down resulting in the male to stop as well. After a few minutes the male resumed the walk followed by the female. Both the leopards walked over the sand dune into the forest. The male was the Nelum Wila Mlae 5 (NWMC 5) and the female was Manikrala Uraniya Female 1 (MRUF 1). I received images of these two leopards mating on the 14th of February in 2019 and thereafter again on the 12th of June the same year. However, this female is yet to conceive. (With guide Hashan Madushanka)

12th January 2020 at 7.50am a leopard was observed on Kumbuk Wila upper road. N 08.41848, E080.00203
The leopard was lying down on a small patch of sand about 20 feet from the road. It was a male and he walked in to the forest almost as we arrived. I managed to get a few images in the nick of time to identify the animal. It was Nelum Wila Male 5 (NWMC 5). (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)

15th December 2019 at 1.15pm another Leopard at Illanda Motte. N 08.45878, E 079.98997

Having stopped at Manik Wila to study the spot pattern of the Leopard photographed at Kurruttupandi we preceded to Ilanda Mote and were pleasantly surprised to see a male Leopard marking the bushes along the Ilanda Motte bund road. He disturbed a small gathering of Lesser Albatross butterflies that were “mud sipping” on the road and walked in the direction of Down Hall Pitiya. Thankfully the majestic animal turned back to look in our direction permitting us to get few images prior to continuing his walk. Having walked almost up to the large pool of water on the road the leopard turned back and walked in to the forest. Upon examining the spot pattern I was happy to note that this is Nelum Wila Male 5 (NWMC 5), the Leopard that we photographed at the Kokkare Villu sand dune the previous evening.  Even though this animal is still around three years in age he is quite well built. The distance between the two GPS points from Kokkare Villu sand dune to Illanda Motte is 3.96 kilometers. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)

14th December 2019 at 2.44pm one Leopard at Kokkare Villu sand dune.  N 08.42323, E 079.98573

We drove down to the “weli Katte” from Kokkare Villu to be greeted by a frantic Spotted Deer that dashed through the bushes while making its high pitched alarm call. Indian Palm Squirrels and White-browed bulbuls started making alarm calls. We searched carefully and managed to spot the Leopard seated on its hunches. The view was partly covered by foliage but I managed to get a few images. The cat lied down and was soon fast a sleep with its eyes tightly closed. Upon enlarging the images I realized that this is Nelum Wila Male 5 (NWMC 5). There after we proceeded on to the “one way” road to Kudapatessa from where we managed to get a good view of the sleeping cat. While we were observing a male Indian Peafowl walked passed the sleeping Leopard. Even though Leopards often kill Peafowl this bird did not show any apprehension of the sleeping cat. Perhaps the bird knew that the sleeping cat posed no danger.
After some time the Leopard stood up and walked to the edge of the forest and lied down again. Around 4.24pm with few other vehicles arriving at the spot we moved off permitting them to observe and get some images of this fine specimen. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)

The Leopard was lying behind a bush and was only visible from one point on the road. I was not able to get any clear images. Having taken a few images I moved off permitting visitors of vehicles also to have a view of the animal. Later upon studying the spot pattern I identified the Leopard as Nelum Wila Male 5 (NWMC 5). (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)

9th June 2019 at 7.37am one Leopard at Kudapatessa junction. N 08.43251, E 079.98267

We arrived at the Kudapatessa junction and spotted the Leopard walking down from Kudapatessa. He stopped close to us and started  making the “sawing” call. There after he moved in the direction of Kuruttupandi Villu. I permitted the Leopard to move about 30 meters and started to follow. He was disturbed by a troop of Grey Langur that started to make alarm calls and lied down on the road and started to “saw” again. The Leopard was Nelum Wila Male 5 (NWMC 5) who is know approximately 3 years and 5 months old. Leopards make these “sawing” calls to pronounce their presence to other males as well as to find females. In a few minutes with the intensity of the Langur’s alarm calls rising the Leopard walked in to the forest followed the Grey Langur troop in the trees barking alarm calls. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)

19th November 2018 at 11.48am one Leopard at Kumbuk Wila. N 08.42204, E 080.00693

I stopped at Kumbuk Wila “summer hut” briefly and learnt from the jeep drivers that there had been no leopard sightings till then. We advanced about 100 meters in the direction of Borupan junction and I was alerted by the alarm call of an Indian Palm Squirrel. Having examined the foliage my guide Tissa spotted a Leopard lying down on a small mound of earth partly covered by foliage less than 10 feet from the edge of the road. I managed to get a few record images to identify the leopard. It was Nelum Wila Male 5 (NWMC 5). In a few minutes the young leopard stood up and walked in to the jungle. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)

18th November 2018 at 7.54am one Leopard at Lunuwew road junction. N 08.42844, E 080.02660

We drove from Borupan Wila on to the Lunuwewa road and spotted a Leopard at the junction. I reversed the vehicle as I was too close to the leopard and was keen to give it adequate space. The Leopard, after sniffing the decaying tree at the junction, started to walk in the direction of Lunu Wewa. I followed the animal maintaining a distance of about 30 meters. He marked the bushes and turned and looked in our direction permitting me to take a few images. It was Nelum Wila Male 5 (NWMC 5).  The young male was in excellent condition. I was so thrilled to see this male that had eluded me during my past few trips. Having walked about 40 meters the Leopard moved in to the forest. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)

17th November 2018 at 2.06pm two leopards on Kumbuk Wila upper road.  N 08.41837, E 080.00825

 It was Nelum Wila Male 5 (NWMC 5) and Kumbuk Wila Female 2 (KWFC 2). As we approached the bent Ficus Tree on this road saw a male leopard crossing the road. I was not able to get any images of this animal as he moved in to the forest towards Kumbuk Wila. After a few minutes a female leopard emerged from where the male leopard moved on to the road. She walked for a few meters in our direction and moved in to the forest following the male. I was able to get a few good images of this animal and identified her as KWFC 2. Upon examining photos taken by another visitor I was able to confirm that the male was NWMC 5. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)

27th May 2018 at 3.55pm one Leopard on Kumbuk Wila upper road. N 08.41808, E 080.00737

It was Nelum Wila Male 5 (NWMC 5). It was a very brief sighting. The young Leopard was disturbed by the number of vehicles that had gathered at this spot and retreated in to the forest. ( with Guide Tissa Rtnayake)

1.04pm Two Leopards at Madangaha Wala. N 08.41539, E 079.99796
A female Leopard emerged from the thicket followed by another male. Later upon checking their spot patterns I was able to ID them as Nelum Wila Female 3 (NWFC 3) and Nelum Wila Male 5 (NWMC 5). It was wonderful to see these youngster siblings chasing each other and play fighting like a pair of domestic cats. We watched them for about 10 minutes and left to proceed to the bungalow. ( with Guide Tissa Rtnayake)

Having heard that two leopards had crossed the main road we arrived at Madangaha Wala. There were two vehicles parked in expectation of the leopards. I decided to park away from the parked vehicles expecting the leopards to cross the road towards Nelum Wila from the forested area of the road. One leopard emerged from the thicket and I managed to get a few images. I was able to instantly recognize that this is Nelum Wila Male Cub 5 (NWMC 5). He was bold enough to cross the road in between the vehicles and disappear in to the forest. ( with Guide Tissa Rtnayake)

Upon checking the spot patterns images I was able to conform that it is Nelum Wila Male Cub 5 (NWMC 5). The young male leopard was by the side of the road and walked across the road. Having sniffed the ground he defecated and walked on to the road and started to walk away from the vehicle. After a few minutes he lay down and rested on the road. I managed to get a few images and allowed the vehicle following me to move ahead for a better view. Upon another vehicle arriving from the opposite direction the leopard moved in to the forest. (with Guide Tissa Ratnayake)

4th February 2018 at 11.51am one Leopard between Kokkare Villu junction and Nelum Wila. N 08.40936, E 079.98470

It was Kumbuk Wila upper road Leopard 1 listed under Leopards of Wilpattu – Guest section. This is my first sighting of this young male leopard. I estimated its age to be around 2 years. He was lying on the ground about 15 feet from the road. After about 10 minutes, with the build up of vehicles, he stood up and walked further in to the forest and lay on the floor again. Having slept for about an hour he was alerted by an alarm call of an Indian Palm Squirrel and walked on to the road, sat on its hunches and walked across to the opposite side. I named this leopard Nelum Wila Male 5 (NWMC 5) ( with guide Tissa Ratnayake)