Leopards of Wilpattu

10 Sightings

Kumbuk Wila Female 1 - KWFC 1

Locations of sightings

Kumbuk Wila Pitiya, Borupan Pitiya, Borupan Wila, Kumbuk Wila summer hut.

First Sighting

11th January 2014 at 10.00am.

31st August 2014 at 5.51pm 1 Leopard, Kumbuk Wila Female 1 (KWFC 1) lying by the side of the road to Borupan junction at Kumbuk Wila Pitiya. N 08.42061, E 080.01152
It was at the same locality where I observed this leopard on the 30th early morning. A little while late another leopard was observed at the same locality but could not be photographed as it moved in side the forest. Having photographed the leopard I drove up the road from Kumbuk Wila to Thimbiri Wila and observed a leopard walking towards Thimbiri Wila. It was a very shy animal and moved in to the forest before I could take any photographs. (with guide Thisara)

30th August 2014 at 6.46am 1 Leopard, Kumbuk Wila Female Cub 1 (KWFC 1) seated on the road at Kumbuk Wila Pitiya. N 08.42061, E 080.01152
After a few minutes it moved in to the forest towards Thimibiri Wila. (with guide Thisara)

27th August 2014 at 7.32am 1 Leopard, Kumbuk Wila Female 1 (KWFC 1) at Kumbuk Wila. N 08.42216, E 080.00647.
It was sleeping on a low branch of a massive Kumbuk Tree. After a few minutes the young leopard got off the tree and climbed on to another branch.
8.15am the Leopard climbed down from the tree crossed the road and moved in to the forest. ( with Guide Dinesh)

19th July 2014 at 6.41am KWFC 1 lying at the edge of the water, across the villu at Borupan Wila. N 08.42670, E 080.02088.
After a while it was alerted by an adult male Wild Boar that came to water. The boar did not see the Leopard and started to drink. The young leopard stalked and charged the boar. Even though the Wild Boar bolted in to the forest it appeared to be nothing but a mock charge as the cub was perhaps too young still to tackle such formidable prey. There after it was rolling on its back for some time and started to stalk again but it was not possible to identify the prey. All at once it charged with a long leap in to the forest. The sighting ended with the leopard running in to the forest at 7.24am. (with guide podi Danushka)

27th April 2014 at 5.50pm we stopped at the Kumbuk Wila summer hut briefly to ease our selves and decided to drive towards Kokkare Villu as a last minute effort to see a leopard. As we turned the vehicle spotted a leopard walking towards the vehicle about 100 meters down the road. Much to my displeasure before I could get any photos it moved in to the forest. We drove ahead and turned the vehicle. As we turned we spotted the leopard again moving on to the road. As expected it walked towards the summer hut. We kept a distance of about 40 meters from the leopard and followed it. Having walked up to the summer hut it settled on the ground where the road leads to Mahapatessa. After about 10 minutes of liking its paws it stood up and walked in the direction of Mahapatessa.

Examination of the photos revealed that that this was the Kumbuk Wila Female Cub 1 (KWFC 1) N 8 25.308 E 80 00.250
(with Subash Madawa and guide podi Danushka in Hemantha Wimalasena`s jeep)

6th April 2014 at 6.55am: 1 Leopard, KWFC 1, was spotted sitting at the edge of the forest at Borupan Pitiya, closer than where it was seen yesterday.
N 08.42453, E 080.02679
After a few minutes the young female moved towards me. Its attention was on a White-breasted Waterhen that moved in the grass. As the leopard approached, the bird flew up onto a bush. Thereafter the leopard moved through some bushes in the direction of two Indian Peafowl feeding at the center of the pitiya. It moved towards the birds along a dark patch of shade and bent down as the unsuspecting Peafowl walked quite close. I expected the leopard to pounce at the birds any moment but other than staying perfectly still and watching them intently, she did not attack the birds. After the birds moved some distance away from the leopard it moved into the forest. (With my guide podi Danushka)

5th April 2014 at 9.31am: We arrived at Borupan Pitiya and spotted KWFC 1 lying on a horizontal branch of a Madan tree close to where it was seen in the morning. N 08.42542, E 080.02596.It was observing a Peahen that was a short distance from the tree. After about 10 minutes the bird spotted the predator and flew off while giving out its characteristic loud alarm call.
9.54am: The leopard jumped off the tree, walked across the field and lay down under a bush. ( With my guide podi Danushka)

5th April 2014 at 7.01am: I was told that two leopards had been seen the previous evening at Borupan Pitiya. We drove towards Boradiya Wala and spotted one leopard about 100 meters from where one enters the forest to approach Boradiya Wala in the direction of the Lunu Wila road. It was KWFC 1.
N 08.42485, E 080.02744. It was lying among the dried grass and was partly visible.

Around 7.25am the young leopard stood up and walked into the forest in the direction of the Lunu Wila road.
7.29am: We drove along the road that joins Lunu Wila road from Borupan Pitiya and spotted KWFC 1 lying among the dried grass. N 08.42624, E 080.02625.

The leopard was only visible from one location. I took a few photos and moved my vehicle for the others to have a look. By the time I returned, the leopard had moved out of sight. I was told by the jeep drivers that it moved in the direction of Boradiya Wala. However as it was too early for a leopard to drink, I drove off to explore the rest of the Park with the hope of returning by mid-morning to look for it again. ( With Guide podi Danushka)
11th January 2014 at 10.00am 1 Leopard at Kumbuk Wila Pitiya. N 08.42170, E 080.00837
It was lying at the foot of a bush on the Thimbiri Wila side of the pitiya about 30meters from the road. It was a 7-8 month old female cub. The leopard appeared quite relaxed and after about 10 minutes rested it’s head on the ground and slept. After a few minutes it was alerted by something from the forest and quickly moved in to the forest. Perhaps it responded to the call of its mother. This is my first sighting of this leopard. I named it Kumbuk Wila Female 1 (KWFC 1). ( with guide podi Danushka)