Locations of sightings
Maradanmaduwa, Thambioluwa
First Sighting
21st February 2016 at 8.06am
24th April 2016 at 9.40am 2 Leopards on a Palu tree at Maradanmaduwa. I was able to instantly identify them as the Maradanmaduwa Male 1 and 2 (MMMC 1 & MMMC 2). N 08.37967, E080.06647
They were sleeping on the branches. I parked the vehicle at a spot where I had a better view to observe and photograph them. One of them stood up and moved towards his brother and started to lick him on its back. After this show of affection they got off the tree. MMMC 1 climbed a tree at a distance and MMMC 2 started to walk in the direction of Thambi Oluwa. These two leopards are now around 1 year and six months of age and are seen on their own but will stay with their mother for about 5 months more before becoming independent.
10.15am two more safari jeeps arrived and we decided to move so that they can get a better view. Nanda suggested that we drive down a little on the Maha Wewa road and come back. I was quite glade we did as we had a good Sloth Bear sighting. Upon our return around 10.30am we had a sighting of MMMC 2. (With Nanda Senanayake).
21st February 2016 at 8.06am one Leopard, Maradanmaduwa Male 1 (MMMC 1) at Thambioluwa. N 08.38052, E 080.06468
The leopard was resting on an earth mound covered with foliage and was barely visible. I managed to get a few photos, which enabled me to identify the leopard.
9.35am I left the leopard to proceed towards the Lunu Wewa bungalow. (with guide Sanath)
19th September 2015 at 9.35am 3 Leopards between Maradanmaduwa and Thambi Oluwa. N 08.38010 E 080.06572
Two were on a fallen tree trunk and one moved down as we arrived. The third was on the ground with only its tail visible through the bushes. The two on the tree trunk were two male cubs of about 9 to 10 months. This is my first sighting of these leopards and I named them Maradanmaduwa Male 1 (MMMC 1) and Maradanmaduwa Male 2 (MMMC 2)
11.40am 1 Leopard MMMC 1 on the same tree trunk between Thambi Oluwa and Maradanmaduwa.
1.46pm 2 Leopards, Maradanmaduwa Male 1 (MMMC 1) and Maradanmaduwa Male 2 (MMMC 2) on the same fallen tree trunk. I observed them for approximately 2 hours till 3.50pm. The third leopard was not visible.
4.55pm 3 Leopards on the fallen tree trunk between Thambi Oluwa and Maradanmaduwa.
I was informed by a jeep driver at Kumbuk Wila that with the increase of the safari jeeps some visitors had disturbed the leopards and moved in to the forest. As these were cubs I expected them to remain in the same locality and with the jeeps leaving the location for them to be back on the tree trunk again.
Having arrived at the location I was thrilled to observe three leopards on the tree trunk. While two of the cubs could be seen well the third leopard was covered by foliage.
While I was photographing the two cubs the third leopard moved towards the cubs and started too lick them demonstrating maternal behavior. This activity lasted for about 6 minutes and permitted me to capture some images of the three leopards together. Later upon examining the spot and rosette pattern of the third leopard I realized that it is the Maradanmaduwa Female 1 (MMFC 1) that I had last observed at Maradanmaduwa in December 2013. As female leopards are known to produce their first litter when they are around 2 and half years I’m certain that these two cubs should be her first litter.
With the arrival of other jeeps I moved my vehicle to allow the others parked behind me also view this fascinating sight.
