Locations of sightings
Kuruttupandi Villu, KudapatessaIllanda Motte to Manikrala Uraniya
First Sighting
10th May 2025 at 3.47pm
15th August 2025 at 12.32pm one Leopard on the large Ficus tree seen from Kuruttupandi upper road. N 08.43540, E 079.98260
The leopard was lying on a large Ficus tree and was partly covered by foliage. A long line of vehicles had formed almost up to the Kudapatessa junction to see the sleeping feline. Thankfully the leopard remained on the tree despite the heavy disturbance caused by vehicles trying to cross on the narrow road with the loud voices of many jeep drivers and visitors. Each vehicle would spend a few minutes where the leopard could be seen and leave allowing the others to move forward. When I arrived at the location the young female leopard was with her head up which allowed me to get a few images adequate for identification. It was Kuruttupandi Female 1 (KRPFC 1). Having captured a few images, I drove off permitting the others in the queue to get a glimpse of the elusive cat.
12th August 2025 at 9.45am two Leopards at Kuruttupandi Villu. N 08.43847, E 079.98241
The young male leopard was lying down under the shade of a small tree across the villu. It was difficult to spot the leopard with the naked without the aid of binoculars. He would occasionally raise his head to investigate any thing that distracts him or shift position to move from direct sunlight falling on him but go back to sleep. Upon examination of the spot pattern, I noted that this is Kuruttupandi Male 1 (KRPMC 1), one of the second litter cubs of Manikrala Uraniya Female 1. He is around one year and six months of age now and is often seen together with its female sibling. Leopard cubs stay in the company of their mother for about two years. Despite having got a few images I was keen to remain at this location due to the possibility of seeing its sibling and the arrival of their mother. Thus, I parked at the edge of the area enabling other safari vehicles to move out once they have seen the leopard.
11.25am another leopard was seen seated to the edge of the forest, remained seated for a few minutes and moved down to the edge of the water and started drinking. After drinking for about 5 minutes, she moved in the direction of the sleeping leopard but lied down briefly prior to moving into the forest. I checked her spot pattern and realized that this is Kuruttupandi Female 1 (KRPFC 1), the female sibling of the sleeping leopard.
12.50pm sunlight started to fall on the sleeping KRPMC 1. He stood up, yawned and moved from where he was sleeping. I expected him to walk down to drink but he moved under another bush and lay down again.
I stayed at this location until 3.30pm expecting further leopard activity but since there was none decided to leave.
