Leopards of Wilpattu Photo Gallery

     7 Sightings    
Leopards of Wilpattu
Leopards of Wilpattu
Leopards of Wilpattu
Leopards of Wilpattu
Leopards of Wilpattu
Leopards of Wilpattu

Walas Wala Male 1 - WWMC 1

Locations of sightings

Walas Wala, Maradanmaduwa,Thambi Oluwa, Boralu Wala, Ikirigollawa Road, Humbas Wala, Thambioluwa

First Sighting

15th September 2012 at 6.45am.

All sightings of Author & Guests

All sightings of Author & Guests

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  • 15th September 2012 6.45am at Walas Wala - KG
  • 20th January 2013 6.53am “Kukul Katu Field” at Maradanmaduwa - KG
  • 27th October 2013 4.11 at the “Kukul Katu Field” at Maradanmaduwa - KG
  • 9th November 2013 4.48pm at Thambi Oluwa - KG
  • 18th January 2014 5.45pm about 50 meters from Boralu wala - KG
  • 15th May 2014 at 5.06pm Thambi Oluwa - Hemantha Wimalasena
  • 6th July 2014 7.40am at Ibba Wala – Hemantha Wimalasena
  • 20th July 2014 at 6.26pm Thambi Oluwa – Hemantha Wimalasena
  • 20th July 2014 at 6.18pm Thambi Oluwa – Namal Kamalgoda
  • 31st January 2016 at 3.23pm at “Kukul Katu Field” at Maradanmaduwa - KG
  • 20th February 2016 2.42pm on Ikirigollawa road – KG
  • 2nd September 2016 at Humbas Wala – Hemantha Wimalasena
  • 2nd September 2016 at Humbas Wala – Namal Kamalgoda
  • 2nd September 2016  6.09pm at Humbas Wala – Enoka Mohotty
  • 13th February 2017 5.52am at Maradanmaduwa – Adheesha Salpitikorala
  • 30th March 2017 3.36pm down Ikirigollawa Road – Isuru Chathuranga
  • 16th March 2018 7.26am at Humbas Wala – Pathum Neeliya
  • 4th March 2019 3.50pm between Maradanmaduwa and Thambioluwa - Hemantha Wimalasena
  • 8th April 2019 5.15pm at Maradanmaduwa – Pathum Neeliya

  • 20th February 2016 at 2.42pm 1 Leopard, Walas Wala Male 1 (WWMC 1) down Ikirigollawa road. N 08.36769, E 080.06854

    It was a big mature male leopard and was walking in the direction of Kimbula Ketu Gala. As we spotted the leopard it moved in to the forest and I stopped the engine. In a few seconds it moved back on to the road and started to walk ahead of the vehicle. It was “scent marking” by spraying the bushes and scraping the ground every 20 to 30meter distance. On one occasion it stood on its hind legs to sniff a tall bush. I noted that this is a very shy animal as it kept looking back at the vehicle and thus maintained a fair distance of about 30 meters from the walking leopard.

    2.55pm the leopard walked for about 200 meters and moved in to the forest just as it started to rain. As it was a very heavy down pour I expected it to end soon and it did. We drove back to look for any sign of the leopard but noticed by the absence of any pugmarks on the road that it had not moved back on to the road. Later upon examination of the photos I learnt that this is the Walas Wala Male 1 (WWMC 1) (with guide Sanath)

    • Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 20th February 2016 Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 20th February 2016 Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 20th February 2016 Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 20th February 2016 Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 20th February 2016

  • 31st January 2016 at 3.23pm a female Wild Boar rushed on to the road followed by two piglets stood for a few seconds and ran off the road. They appeared to be quite agitated. Just then a Spotted Deer barked out an alarm call and we spotted a male Leopard in the “Kukul Katu” field with one piglet in its mouth. My worst fears for the single parent wild boar family had come true. The leopard walked to the edge of the forest, left the piglet and walked back on to the open field again. To my surprise it picked up another piglet. Having carried the second piglet to the same spot where the first was deposited the leopard started to feed. It was partly covered by the bushes and grass but was clearly visible through the binoculars. After about 10 minutes the leopard sat on its hunches with the other piglet in its mouth. To my great surprise the little piglet was still alive and was swinging its hind legs vigorously. Having sat for about a minute or so the leopard walked in to the forest with the struggling piglet. Having studied the spot pattern I realized that this is the Walas Wala Male 1 (WWMC 1).  

    N 08.37377, E 080.07162 (with guide Tissara Madushanka)

    • Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 31st January 2016 at 3.23pm Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 31st January 2016 at 3.23pm Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 31st January 2016 at 3.23pm Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 31st January 2016 at 3.23pm Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 31st January 2016 at 3.23pm
  • 18th January 2014 at 5.45pm, WWMC 1 about 50 meters from Boralu wala. N 08.40672, E 080.04447

    It was walking towards Maradanmaduwa. On two occasions it marked the bushes on right hand side of the road. The leopard walked for about 30 meters along the road and walked in to the forest of the road. ( with Dr. Jacob De Vlas, Mrs. De Vlas and guide podi Danushka)
    • Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 18th January 2014 at 5.45pm. Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 18th January 2014 at 5.45pm. Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 18th January 2014 at 5.45pm. Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 18th January 2014 at 5.45pm.
  • 9th November 2013 at 4.48pm, WWMC 1 stalking two Sambar at Thambi Oluwa. N 8.385683, E 80.059967
    Having seen a sub adult Sambar to the left by the side of the road with its tail raised in excitement we approached carefully and spotted a leopard among the bushes on to our left about 25 meters from the sub adult Sambar. I turned off the engine immediately. The leopard was in an ambush position and was intently observing every movement of the young Sambar. Just as I though that it will spring forward the adult female Samabr, which was across the road, spotted the leopard hiding behind the bushes and started to walk towards it while repeatedly making its bellowing alarm call and stamping its front feet on the ground one at a time. This resulted in the leopard visibly giving up its hunt. The sub adult Sambar did not spot the leopard and was looking in a different direction but made a few alarm calls, which sounded higher in pitch than the deep booming calls of its mother. Had it not been for the adult Sambar the sub adult, in all probability, could have ended up being killed by the Leopard, as it had no clue of the predator that had approached it so close. After a while the leopard got up and walked in to the forest and the two Sambar trotted in the opposite direction. In a few minutes the leopard walked on to the road and started to walk towards Maradanmaduw. The young leopard was “sent marking” trees and bushes on the right hand side along the road every 10 meters or so and was not bothered by the 6-7 vehicles that was following at a distance of about 50 meters. After a while I allowed the vehicles behind me to go pass me and was told later that leopard trotted in the direction of the Maradanmaduwa Tank upon being approached too close by another jeep. ( With guide podi Danushka)
    • Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 9th November 2013 at 4.48pm. Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 9th November 2013 at 4.48pm. Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 9th November 2013 at 4.48pm. Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 9th November 2013 at 4.48pm.
  • 27th October 2013 at 4.11pm. WWMC 1 lying down at the forest edge across the ‘Kukul Katu Plains’ at Maradanmaduwa. N 8.374850, E 80.070733
    It was sleeping at the time we arrived. The setting sun made photography quite a challenge. After about 10 minutes the leopard looked up permitting me to get some photographs, which helped me in identifying the individual as WWMC 1. At 4.49pm the leopard got up and walked across the edge of the forest and entered the forest. 8.37492, 80.07072 (100 meters to the right) (With Dr. Samantha Suranjan and Guide podi Danushka)
    • Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 27th October 2013 at 4.11pm. Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 27th October 2013 at 4.11pm. Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 27th October 2013 at 4.11pm. Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 27th October 2013 at 4.11pm. Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 27th October 2013 at 4.11pm. Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 27th October 2013 at 4.11pm.
  • 20th January 2013 at 5.05pm. WWMC 1 walked to the kill and a large cloud of flies flew up with a buzzing noise. The young leopard started to feed for about 12 minutes and left.
  • 20th January 2013 at 10.08am. WWMC 1 seen at the edge of the forest but did not come to the kill.
  • 20th January 2013 at 8.56am. WWMC 1 walked out but did not feed on the kill and walked across the glade in full view and entered the forest.
  • 20th January 2013 at 6.53am. Sambar kill at Maradanmaduwa Kukul Katu glade. N 8.374850, E 80.070733
    The Sambar had been killed the previous night, as it was not present the previous day when I left the park. One subadult male leopard was seen. It was later identified as the WWMC 1. It fed on the kill for about 22 minutes and left. I decided to spend the whole day at the kill. (With guide Saranga)
    • Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 20th January 2013 at 6.53am. Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 20th January 2013 at 6.53am. Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 20th January 2013 at 6.53am. Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 20th January 2013 at 6.53am. Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 20th January 2013 at 6.53am.
  • 15th September 2012 at 6.45am. We arrived at Walas Wala and observed a Barking Deer coming to water from the left. N 8.414167, E 80.031033.
    Across the road at the pond a leopard was drinking. It went a few yards from the pond and lay down behind a few bushes. After a few minutes it yawned, got up and walked into the jungle. I named it WWMC 1. (With Senehas and guide Dinesh)
    • Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 15th September 2012 at 6.45am. Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 15th September 2012 at 6.45am. Walas Wala Male 1-WWMC 1 - 15th September 2012 at 6.45am.