Leopards of Wilpattu

4 Sightings

Borupan Wila Female 1 - BWF 1

Locations of sightings

Borupan Wila, Kumbuk Wila, Thimbiri Wila, Road between Borupan Wila Junction and Kumbuk Wila, Kumbuk Wila Pitiya, Borupan Pitiya, Boradiya Wala.

First Sighting

11th May 2012 at 5.15pm.

31st August 2013 at 7.18am BWF 1 drinking across Kumbuk Wila. 150m to the left. N 8.421500, E 80.008633 It drank water for about 4 minutes after our arrival, got up and walked to the edge of the forest and lied down. (With Nanda Senanayake and guide podi Danushka)

30th March 2013 1.34pm. BWF 1 - at Kumbuk Wila. N 8.402950, E 80.013250 Having stopped for lunch I was chatting with a few guides. There were a few other vehicles parked as well. While talking to Wijekoon and Sunil, both of whom are guides of the DWLC, I heard the “koooo kok kok kok” alarm call of a peafowl that flew up about 30-40 yards in the direction of Borupan Wila. Even the flapping of its wings was clearly heard. I immediately got into the vehicle and drove about 20 meters. BWF 1was on the road crossing from the Kumbuk Wila side and a male Indian Peafowl was on a Kumbuk Terminalia arjuna tree at the edge of the Wila. (With Guide podi Danushka)

12th August 2012 at 5.45pm. 2 Leopards, BWMC 1 & BWF 1 seen at Borupan Pitiya. N 8.422817, E 80.023517 (With guide Saranga)
12th August 2012 at 2.38pm. I drove to the Boradiya Wala waterhole thinking of taking a nap. N 8.424667, E 80.028700

As I arrived there were two leopards, BWF 1 & BWMC 1, at the waterhole. They moved inside the forest upon our arrival. BWMC 1 was quite active and stalked the Grey Langurs that were making frantic alarm calls. Thereafter it slowly walked very close to the vehicle and sat on an earth mound. The distance from the driving seat to the leopard was not more than 12 feet. As I observed the young leopard I noticed that it was making high pitched cat/bird like calls intermittently which was answered by the low growls of the mother. The cub which is bigger in size than the mother, is very affectionate towards her. After a while BWF 1 walked to the water hole and was joined by BWMC 1. They drank for a few minutes and both leopards entered the forest towards Borupan Pitiya. I photographed both leopards. (With guide Saranga)

11th May 2012 at 5.15pm. As we turned from Borupan Wila junction towards Kumbuk Wila, at a distance there were two leopards on the road. N 8.417700, E 80.021950
I parked on a side expecting them to walk towards us and so they did. It was BWMC 1 with its mother Borupan Wila Female 1 (BWF 1). This was my first sighting of BWF 1. They walked together until they were about 15 feet from the vehicle and moved into the forest in the direction of Borupan Wila. I photographed both of them walking towards me. (With Nanda Senanayake, Lalith Ramanayake and guide Saranga)