Leopards of Wilpattu

17 Sightings

Borupan Wila Male 1 - BWMC 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, Walas Wala.

First Sighting

18th February 2012 at 4 .15pm.

All sightings of Author & Guests

30th December 2013 at 11.50am BWMC 1 at Walas Wala. It was sleeping on the bund towards the center. N 8 24.849 E 80 01.863
12.21pm with sunlight falling on the leopard it got up and moved to a shady part of the bund under a Flame of the Forest Ixora coccinea bush which was bloom and slept.
1.35pm left the sleeping leopard and drove towards Kumbuk Wila to have lunch.
2.25pm BWMC 1 sleeping on the road about 15 meters towards Borupan Junction just before Walas Wala with a number of vehicles parked close to Walas Wala.
3.17pm with the number of vehicle increasing the leopard got up stretched and started to walk towards my vehicle with the other vehicles following it. After photographing the advancing leopard I was able to reverse my vehicle to enable it to advance towards Borupan Wila Junction. The leopard was quite relaxed and “marked” two bushed on either side of the road. After walking for about 20 meters, as the number of vehicles following it increased the leopard moved in to the forest. (with guide podi Danushka and jeep driver Hemantha)

Borupan Wila Male 1 -BWMC 1 - 30th December 2013 at 3.17pm.

13th October 2013 at 6.35am BWMC 1 was lying down just by the side of the water hole at Walas Wala. N 8.414167, E 80.031033
6.50am the leopard got up and walked on to the bund.
9.10am the leopard walked along the bund and entered the forest in the direction of the kill.
10. 25am arrived at Walas Wala again and found BWMC 1 lying by the side of the water hole. Most probably, having fed on the kill, it had come to drink.
10.30am the young leopard walked up to the water hole and started to drink for about 4 minutes. Thereafter it walked on to the bund and slept. I was parked at Walas Wala observing this leopard for six hours until I left at 4.30pm.

Borupan Wila Male 1 -BWMC 1 - 13th October 2013 at 10.30am

3.25pm a Ruddy Mongoose walked out of the forest from the right hand corner of the bund but was not able to see the sleeping leopard in the opposite corner of the short bund. It continued to walk in the direction of the sleeping leopard. I kept on photographing the Mongoose. Even though the vehicles parked on the road were able to see the sleeping leopard the Mongoose was not able to see the predator as the bushes growing on the bund covered its view. The inquisitive mammal casually trotted passed the bushes along the bund and arrived a few feet in front of the sleeping leopard where it suddenly became aware of the predator. Upon seeing the leopard it froze for a moment with its tail hairs puffed up, turned back in one swift action and bolted at great speed in to the jungle. The leopard slept through the whole episode. I was quite surprised that this small mammal was not able to smell the leopard.

Borupan Wila Male 1 -BWMC 1 - 13th October 2013 at 3.25pm

4.30pm left Walas Wala. The young leopard slept continuously for more than 6 hours from 10.30am until my departure. ( With Guide Podi Danushka)
12th October 2013 at 11.05am BWMC 1 at Walas Wala. N 8.414167, E 80.031033
It was sleeping in the shade of a Thammanna Tree close to the concrete pool of water created by the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
11.35am the leopard changed its place of resting on a few occasions to avoid the sun.
12.35am the leopard walked across the dried up Walas Wala in the Borupan Wila direction and settled on the white sand on the road. After about 5 minutes it stood up and “marked” by the side of the road. Thereafter it walked in to the forest.

Borupan Wila Male 1 -BWMC 1 - 13th October 2013 at 4.30pm.

I left Walas Wala and drove up to Kumbuk Wila.
1.30pm after having lunch I arrived at Walas Wala to find BWMC 1 sleeping on the bund across the “Wala”.
2.25pm much to our amusement the sleeping leopard turned on to its back and rolled off the bund. It quickly got up and climbed back on to the bund.
3.30pm the leopard is still sleeping on the bund.

5.05pm another female leopard was spotted at the right hand side of the “wala”. It was quite shy and did not move out in to the open. I managed to get a few shots of this leopard. This is my first sighting of this leopard and I named it Walas Wala Female 2 (WWF 2).
5.17pm BWMC 1 stood up and walked towards WWF 2 and lied down close to it. The actions of the young leopard of keeping its head low and lying down with its head on the ground indicated that it was quite submissive towards WWF 2. Even though the two leopards were close to the each other the second leopard did not move in to the open.

Borupan Wila Male 1 -BWMC 1 - 12th October 2013 at 5.17pm.

5.35pm while watching the two leopards at Walas Wala another leopard walked from the Ibba Wala direction along the road towards Walas Wala but entered the forest. I was not able to photograph or identify this leopard. The excitement of the people in the jeeps parked behind me resulted in WWF 2 quickly moving in to the forest.
5.45pm BWMC 1 walked down from the bund got on to the road and walked in the direction of Borupan Junction. After walking for about 10 yards the young leopard entered the forest on the same side of the “Wala”. As the leopard entered the forest at this spot in the morning as well, I suspected that there could be a kill nearby. ( With Guide Podi Danushka)
31st August 2013 at 7.38am BWMC 1 at the Thimbiri Wila end of Borupan Wila. N 8.426867, E 80.020500 It was seated among the reeds. Around 7.47 it got up and walked along the edge of the water body towards Borupan side,sent marked, and entered the forest. ( With Nanda Senanayake and guide podi Danushka)

Borupan Wila Male 1 -BWMC 1 - 31st August 2013 at 7.38am.

29th August 2013 at 10.50am BWMC 1 at Borupan Wila. N 8.426867, E 80.020500 It was lying down under the shade of a small Thimibri Tree at the Thimibiri Wila end of Borupan Wila. Around 11.58am it moved in to the jungle. ( With Nanda Senanayake and guide Dinesh)

Borupan Wila Male 1 -BWMC 1 - 29th August 2013 at 10.50am.

28th August 2013 at 3.39pm BWMC 1 at Borupn Wila. N 8.426867, E 80.020500 It was spotted across the "wila" and walked along the edge of the water body for a short distance and entered the forest. After about 10 minutes a hear od Spotted Deer feeding at the thimbiri Wila end of of Borupan started to give out alarm calls. As there was no appearance by the leopard I drove towards Thimbiri Wila and spotted it lying down on the dried up sandy stream bed to the left between Borupan and Thimbiri Wila. It slept until I left. ( With Nanda Senanayake and guide Dinesh)

Borupan Wila Male 1 -BWMC 1 - 28th August 2013 at 3.39pm.

20th August 2013 at 9.10am BWMC 1 between Kumbuk Wila junction and Borupan Junction. N 08.41913, E 080.01690 It was lying down about 25 feet inside the jungle. I parked on a side where I was able to see the leopard through the bushes with adequate space for the other vehicles to move. Even though I was able to observe the spot pattern of the leopard with the help of my binoculars, photography was a near impossibility and I only managed to get a few record shots. It was exactly one year since I saw him last and I was happy to observe that it had grown to become a fine young leopard. Other than a few brief drives towards Thimbiri Wila and Kudapatessa I was parked at this spot continuously till 5.45pm expecting the leopard to move on to the road. However except for moving a few feet inside the jungle the young leopard continued to sleep. ( with guide podi Danushka)

Borupan Wila Male 1 -BWMC 1 - 20th August 2013 at 9.10am.

19th August 2012 at 10.45am. Saranga spotted BWMC 1 sleeping on the Thimbiri Wila side of the road about 20 feet inside the jungle at Kumbuk Wila Uda Para Junction with its back towards the road. N 8.418800, E 80.018033
It was not bothered by the vehicles and did not even raise its head to look when we stopped the vehicle. (With my mother- Padmini Gunawardena, Diluk Pieris, Stephan and guide Saranga)
19th August 2012 at 7.15am. BWMC 1 at Kumbuk Wila Pitiya. N 8.418800, E80.018033
Having arrived from Thimbiri Wila to Kumbuk Wila, we turned towards Borupan Wila junction and observed pug marks of two leopards crossing from the Thimbiri Wila side to Kumbuk Wila Pitiya and BWMC 1 under a bush on to the right by the roadside. While observing it, a flock of peafowl walked behind a large bush and flew off making loud alarm cries. Most probably the BWF 1 would have been there but was out of sight. After a few minutes BWMC 1 walked on to the road and chased a Jerdon`s Bushlark. Thereafter upon seeing a Ruddy Mongoose at the Kumbuk Wila Uda Para Junction it stalked and charged it but was not successful. As other vehicles began approaching it, it walked into the Kumbuk Wila Uda Para and climbed a tree where it remained for about 2 hours. (With my mother- Padmini Gunawardena, Diluk Pieris, Stephan and guide Saranga)

Borupan Wila Male 1 -BWMC 1 - 19th August 2012 at 7.15am.

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 8.418800, E 80.018033
As I arrived I saw two leopards: BWF 1 & BWMC 1 were at the waterhole and moved inside the forest upon our arrival. BWMC 1 was quite active and was stalking the Grey Langurs that were making alarm calls. Thereafter it came very close to the vehicle and sat on an earth mound. The distance from the driving seat to the leopard was not more than 7 feet. After a while I noticed that it was making high pitched cat/bird like calls intermittently which were answered by the low growls of the mother. The cub which was larger than the mother was very affectionate towards her. After a while BWF 1 went to the water 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)

Borupan Wila Male 1 -BWMC 1 - 12th August 2012 at 5.45pm.

14th July 2012 at 2.15pm. BWMC 1 walked to the waterhole and drank at Boradiya Wala. N 8.424667, E 80.028700
I was not able to photograph as I had parked facing the kill. It ignored the kill and walked past it into the jungle. (With Nanda Senanayake and tracker Saranga)
14th July 2012 at 7.31am. Saranga informed us of a Sambar kill at Boradiya Wala waterhole. N 8.424667, E 80.028700
BWMC 1 was feeding on what was left of the Sambar carcass. While we were watching the leopard, a large male Sambar antler came to the waterhole. BWMC 1 started to stalk the Sambar but stopped about 20 yards from the Sambar which looked at it and continued to drink unconcerned. The young leopard went off and climbed a tree. (With Nanda Senanayake and guide Saranga)

Borupan Wila Male 1 -BWMC 1 - 14th July 2012 at 7.31am.

3rd June 2012 at 5.45pm. N 8.419333, E 80.015967
We turned towards Kumbuk Wila from Borupan Wila junction and spotted BWMC 1 on the road close to the Kumbuk Wila sand patch. It walked towards us but was disturbed by another vehicle that was approaching from the Kumbuk Wila side and went off the road towards Borupan Wila. (With my father- Solomon Gunawardena, Gunasiri Jayawardena and guide Saranga)
3rd June 2012 at 8.45am. We spotted BWMC 1 between the Borupan Wila Junction and Kumbuk Wila closer to the Borupan Wila junction. N 8.417700, E 80.021950
It was on the Sudumuwa Wala side about 25 feet inside the jungle. (With Rajeev Jayawardena and guide Saranga)

13th May 2012 at 6.45am. BWMC 1 was seen sleeping under a Blue Mist (Kora Kaha) bush at Borupan Pitiya. N 8.423833, E 80.025483
As it was partly covered by grass, after watching it for about half an hour we drove towards the Bora Diya Wala waterhole and returned. It had come out to the open and was seated facing the open field. I photographed it well. It had been there till evening. (With Nanda Senanayake, Lalith Ramanayake and guide Saranga)

Borupan Wila Male 1 -BWMC 1 - 13th May 2012 at 6.45am.

11th May 2012 at 5.15pm. As we turned from the 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)

Borupan Wila Male 1 -BWMC 1 - 11th May 2012 at 5.15pm.

18th February 2012 at 4 .15pm. BWMC 1 recorded for the first time lying down about 20 feet from the edge of the road in the forest between Borupan Wila junction and Kumbuk Wila. N 8.419333, E 80.015967
I estimate his age to be around 8-9 months. (With Arritha Wikramanayake and guide Dissanayake)

Borupan Wila Male 1 -BWMC 1 - 18th February 2012 at 4 .15pm.