Leopards of Wilpattu

21st December 2021 at 12.50pm one leopard close to Borupan junction. N 08.41721, E 080.02367
I drove up to Borupan junction and observed a jeep parked in the direction of Kumbuk Wila. The jeep driver signaled me to come over. A leopard cub had been on the road few minutes ago and had moved into the forest. Few safari jeeps were parked ahead of us as well expecting the leopard to move back on to the road. Within a few minutes of us remaining quite we spotted a leopard cub looking in our direction and I managed to get a few images. Having looked around the cub started to move in the direction of the road but unfortunately the jeeps ahead moved forward which caused the leopard to move back into hiding. Later upon examination of its spot pattern I realized that this is Walas Wala Female 5 (WWFC 5), one of the two cubs of Walas Wala Female 4 that I photographed on the 3rd of September 2021.

3rd September 2021 at 4.05pm 3 Leopards between Borupan junction and Walas Wala. N 08.41641, E 080.02534

I arrived at Borupan junction from Borupan Wila and turned the vehicle towards Walas Wala. There were two leopard cubs and a female on the road. The cubs ran in to the forest, but the adult female remained. I immediately turned off the engine and started to photograph the leopard on the road. After about 6 minutes one cub slowly walked towards the mother. It was a female cub of about 4 months. She greeted the cub by licking her back and the cub responded by caressing her with its tail which is so typical of leopard behaviour. The cub sat beside its mother offering me an opportunity to make a few good images. In a few minutes the cub was alerted by a movement in the forest and walked in that direction. As she did the second cub trotted across the road and moved into the forest. It would have been great if this cub at least stopped briefly permitting me to get a few images. The mother and the cub that remained on the road also walked thereafter into the forest. I was not able get any images of the second cub except for a record shot as it ran across the road. The second cub looked a male. Later upon examination of the spot pattern I was pleased to note that this is Walas Wala Female 4 (WWF 4) on my site. I have records of this female from April 2019. My first sighting of her was in July 2020 where I estimated her age to be around 4 and a half years. There was no record of her having any previous litter. Thus, it is very likely that this is her first litter. I named the single cub that I was able to photograph Walas Wala Female 5 with the code (WWFC 5) for the purpose of my study.