Leopards of Wilpattu Photo Gallery

Leopards of Wilpattu
Leopards of Wilpattu
Leopards of Wilpattu
Leopards of Wilpattu
Leopards of Wilpattu
Leopards of Wilpattu

Borupan Wila Female 3 - BWFC 3

Locations of sightings

Borupan Wila, Borupan Junction, Thimbiri Wila, Kumbuk Wila sand patch, Borupan Pitiya, Viranda Wala

First Sighting

24th June 2018 at 4.39pm

  • 6th March 2023 at 4.25pm one leopard at Borupan Wila N 08.42564, E 080.02268

    The leopard was sleeping in one of the islands of bushes found at Borupan Wila. It was hardly visible. We arrived at the location around 3.30pm. Many of the jeeps that arrived left as there was no view of the leopard. Around 4.25pm the leopard broke cover and I managed to get a few images. Thereafter the young leopard walked through the grass on to the opposite side of the villu. Upon examination of the spot pattern, I was happy to note that it is Borupan Wila Female 3 (BWFC 3)

  • Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 6th March 2023 at 4.25pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 6th March 2023 at 4.25pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 6th March 2023 at 4.25pm
  • 6th February 2021 at 1.08pm one leopard between Illanda Motte and Manik Wila.
    N 08.45453, E 079.98639

    It was a female leopard and looked disturbed by my vehicle and two vehicles advancing on the Manik Wila upper road. I managed to get a few images as she moved into the forest which enabled me to identify the leopard. It was Borupan Wila Female 3 (BWFC 3). The vehicles had been following the leopard. Once the vehicles had moved off, we moved towards Illanda Motte and waited on the road expecting the leopard to come back on to the road. Having waited for 25 minutes decided to drive off and as we did saw the leopard ahead of us on the road walking in our direction. We I reversed the vehicle beyond a bend until she was out of sight, parked a waited with our cameras ready expecting her to continue her walk towards Illanda Motte. But we were out of luck. As she failed to appear, I moved forward and observed that her pug marks had stopped a little beyond the bend and she had moved back into the forest.

  • Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 6th February 2021 at 1.08pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 6th February 2021 at 1.08pm
  • 4th February 2021 at 12.25pm one female leopard between Mana Wila and Down Hall Pitiya.
    N 08.46811, E 079.99010

    As we drove towards Downhall pitiya a leopard leaped off the road into the forest ahead of the vehicle. It was a female leopard. I immediately revered the vehicle to give the animal space and after a short while she walked back on to the road. She walked in our direction for about 100 meters and I kept on reversing the vehicle to maintain space between the advancing leopard and my vehicle. After walking for some time, she was alerted by some sounds emanating from the forest walked into the forest. Later upon examination of her spot pattern I was thrilled to note that that this is Borupan Wila Female 3 (BWFC 3), one of the two female cubs of the third litter of Borupan Wila Female 2. (With guide Tissa Ratnayake)

  • Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 4th February 2021 at 12.25pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 4th February 2021 at 12.25pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 4th February 2021 at 12.25pm
  • 8th June 2019 at 9.57am 2 Leopards between Borupan junction and Kumbuk Wila sand patch.

    N 08.41746, E 080.02265
    As we arrived at Borupan junction I noted that a safari jeep was parked at a distance and the driver flashed the headlights. I approached cautiously to find two Leopards lying close to each other by the side of the road. I was able to identify the two female Leopards as Broupan Wila Female 3 & 4 (BWFC 3 & 4). The two siblings were on the road together for about forty minutes and BWFC 4 moved in to the forest. BWFC 3 remained for about 7 minutes and walked in to the forest in the opposite direction.

  • Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 8th June 2019 at 9.57am Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 8th June 2019 at 9.57am Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 8th June 2019 at 9.57am Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 8th June 2019 at 9.57am Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 8th June 2019 at 9.57am
  • 5.30pm a Leopard between Kumbuk Wila sand patch and Borupan junction. N 08.41756, E 080.02254

    The Leopard was Borupan Wila Female 3 (BWFC 3) and was walking down the road in our direction. We stopped about 50 meters from the Leopard to ensure no disturbance. Having walked for a short distance she started to stalk a group of Jungle Fowl gathered in the forest. She crawled with her body close to the ground to conceal herself and looked over the bushes cautiously on few occasions at the Jungle Fowl. Having crawled along the road almost up to the flock of Birds she pounced in to the forest causing the birds to fly in all directions making frantic distress calls. I drove up and found that the young hunter had not succeeded. As the park rules require us to be at the bungalow by 6pm we drove off to reach Maradanmaduwa in time. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)

  • Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 8th June 2019 at 5.30pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 8th June 2019 at 5.30pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 8th June 2019 at 5.30pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 8th June 2019 at 5.30pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 8th June 2019 at 5.30pm
  • 6th June 2019 at 5.00pm 2 Leopards at Borupan junction. N 08.41648, E 080.02549

    We arrived from Sudu Muwa Wala and spotted the two Leopards walking in the direction of Walas Wala. It was an adult female and her young female cub. Even though they were together the adult female did not show any affection to her cub despite the cub being quite playful and affectionate towards her mother. Upon examining the spot patterns I was quite pleased to note that this is Borupan Wila Female 2 (BWF 2) with her cub Borupan Wila Female 4 (BWFC 3), the sibling of the Leopard I photographed in the morning at Borupan Wila. The Leopards walked a short distance and moved back in to the forest. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)

  • Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 6th June 2019 at 5.00pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 6th June 2019 at 5.00pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 6th June 2019 at 5.00pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 6th June 2019 at 5.00pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 6th June 2019 at 5.00pm
  • 17th April 2019 at 3.06pm one Leopard at Borupan pitiya. N 08.42738, E 080.02568

    While on the Borupan upper road we heard Spotted Deer alarm calls and drove down to the “wila”. Upon observing the direction of sight of the Spotted Deer barking out frantic alarm calls we managed spot the leopard. It was a young female. She walked out of cover, sniffed and marked a bush but moved back in to the forest in the direction of the upper road. We drove up and met the leopard again on the road. She walked along the road for a short distance but moved back in to the forest prior to which I managed to get a few images. The spot pattern revealed its identity as Borupan Wila Female 3 (BWFC 3). ( with guide D.M.Wasantha Kumara)

  • Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 17th April 2019 at 3.06pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 17th April 2019 at 3.06pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 17th April 2019 at 3.06pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 17th April 2019 at 3.06pm
  • 18th April 2019 at 7.47am one Leopard on the road between Kumbuk Wila sand patch and Borupan junction. N 08.41880, E 080.01824

    The Leopard was walking in our direction and stopped to “mark” a bush by the side of the road. There after the young leopard remained seated on the road for a few minutes prior to walking across the edge of the road. Having taken a few images I reversed to give way for the vehicle parked behind me to get a clear view. Having studied the spot pattern I noted that this is Borupan Wila Female 3 (BWFC 3), the same female Leopard that I photographed the previous day.

  • Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 18th April 2019 at 7.47am Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 18th April 2019 at 7.47am Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 18th April 2019 at 7.47am Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 18th April 2019 at 7.47am
  • 4.15pm one Leopard at Thimbiri Wila. N 08.42439, E 080.01178

    We spotted the Leopard seated under a tree across the water. After a few minutes the cat walked up to water’s edge and started to drink. Having drunk its fill moved back in to the forest. Later upon studying the spot pattern I was able to identify it as Borupan Wila Female 3 (BWFC 3), the same leopard I observed in the morning. ( with guide D.M.Wasantha Kumara)

  • Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 18th April 2019 at 4.15pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 18th April 2019 at 4.15pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 18th April 2019 at 4.15pm
  • 18th November 2018 at 3.45pm one Leopard on Lunu Wewa road. N 08.44161, E 080.02019

    We drove down to Lunu Wewa bungalow and were on our way back when we spotted the Leopard seated by the side of the road. It was a female and was sniffing the bushes intently. On a few occasions she lifted both her paws up to reach up to sniff the bushes. In less than two minutes she walked across the road and moved in to the forest. Having examined the images I noted that it is Kumbuk Wila Female 2 (KWFC 2). This female is now 2 years and 8 months old and is showing signs of being in eustress for the first time. She appear to be following the male in whose company she was observed yesterday on Kumbuk Wila upper road and which male I photographed in the morning on this road. However this male is now about the same age as the female and is yet to reach sexual maturity. Even though female leopards reach sexually mature around 2 years and 6 months and are able to conceive males appear to take a longer period to reach sexual maturity. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)

  • Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 18th November 2018 at 7.10am Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 18th November 2018 at 7.10am
  • 24th October 2018 at 8.30am 2 Leopards between Kumbuk Wila sand patch and Borupan junction. N 08.41827, E 080.02020

    The two young female leopards were seated together by the side o the road and one moved across the road as we approached them. In less than 10 minutes she moved out again to join her sister. Having checked their spot pattern I identified them as Borupan Wila Female 3 & 4 (BWFC 3& 4) These two cubs are around 1 year and three months now.
    9.20am left the leopards. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)

  • Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 24th October 2018 at 8.30am Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 24th October 2018 at 8.30am Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 24th October 2018 at 8.30am Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 24th October 2018 at 8.30am Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 24th October 2018 at 8.30am
  • 28th July 2018 at 6.57am 3 Leopards between Borupan junction and Borupan Wila. N 08.41996, E 080.02377

    Having noticed the alarm calls of the Grey Langur’s we stopped the vehicle and listened. The calls were moving towards the road. I angled the vehicle in expectation of a leopard moving on to the road. After a few minutes Borupan Wila Female 2 (BWF 2) and her two female cubs, Borupan Wila Female 3 (BWFC 3) and the cub I had not photographed Borupan Pitiya Leopard 3 walked on to the road. The mother as usual was quite keen to move out of sight. They walked in the direction of Borupan Wila and moved in to the forest. I was able to capture few images of the second female cub I did not have and named it Borupan Wila Female 4 (BWFC 4).  The cubs are one year old now. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)

  • Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 28th July 2018 at 6.57am Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 28th July 2018 at 6.57am Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 28th July 2018 at 6.57am Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 28th July 2018 at 6.57am
  • 24th June 2018 at 10.40am we arrived at Borupan pitiya where many vehicles were parked expecting two leopard cubs to move out of the thicket.
  • 12.47pm one Leopard cub at Borupan Pitiya. N 08.42531, E 080.02728
  • Even though we were able to observe the two cubs in the thicket no photography was possible as they were hardy visible without a binoculars. At 12.47pm one moved to the edge of the forest and started to feed on grass blades. I have observed Leopards engaging in this behavior and vomiting there after. Having bitten off and swallowing grass for about 4 minutes the young female leopard vomited and moved in to the forest again.
  • Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 24th June 2018 at 10.40am Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 24th June 2018 at 10.40am Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 24th June 2018 at 10.40am Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 24th June 2018 at 10.40am
  • 4.39pm the same Leopard cub moved out again walked along the edge of the forest and sat down on its hunches permitting us to get a few clear images. There after she moved back in to the forest and started “Clawing a Tree” before climbing up. Having examined the images I noted that this is one of the two cubs of the third litter of Borupan Wila Female 2 (BWF 2), which I have named as Borupan Pitiya Leopard 2 in Leopards of Wilpattu-Guest section based on images received from other contributors to my site. As this is my first sighting of this female leopard I named it Borupan Wila Female 3 (BWF 3). Having received images of these cubs when they were about one month they are now 11 months old. (With guide D.M. Wasantha)
  • Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 24th June 2018 at  4.39pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 24th June 2018 at  4.39pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 24th June 2018 at  4.39pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 24th June 2018 at  4.39pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 24th June 2018 at  4.39pm Borupan Wila Female 3-BWFC 3 - 24th June 2018 at  4.39pm