Leopards of Wilpattu

15th August 2025 at 5.36pm one Leopard at Palu Kola Wala. N 08.36336, E 080.10022

The Leopard was seen seated below the road. Safari jeep driver Randika had spotted the leopard. It was apparent that the cat wanted to cross the road in order to drink water. So we reversed our vehicles about 50 meteres to create adaquate space. Within a few minutes the leopard walked up to the edge of the road and catiously walked across down to Palu Kola Wala. It was a young female leopard of about 3 years of age. This water body had receeded but still had plenty of water. The leopard inspected the the concreat pond which hardly contained any water but did not drink.

Thereafter she walked past a few Peafowl that had gathered to drink up to the edge of the pool but spend a minute or so looking carefully at the water while growling. I have often observed leopards doing this perhaps to ensure the abcense of any Crocodile lurking beneath the surface of the water. The water level here was too shallow for any crocodile but they do breed here during the rainy season. Perhaps her instints and past memories results in this behaviour. Thereafter she started to drink. After a few minutes she moved to a more secluded part of the pool and continued drinking. Having quenched her thirst for exactly 6 minutes the leopardess slowly moved in to the forest.

Later upon checking her spot pattern I was thrilled to note that this is a new leopard for me. I had listed it under Leopards of Wilpattu – Guest section as Divulgas Mandiya Leopard 2. Having studied the images I have received from Pathum Neeliya, Hemantha Wimalasena and Namal Kamalgod I was able to determine her age as two years and 10 months. As this is my first sighting of this female I named her Palu Kola Wala Female 3 for the purpose of my study with the code (PKWF 3).