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8th June 2019 at 5.05pm one Leopard at Kokkare Villu. N 08.41393, E 079.99159
We drove down to the Villu from Kokkare Villu upper road and spotted a female Leopard walking along the edge of the forest. It was a female and she moved to the edge of the water and walked up and down looking for a suitable place to drink. She would gently press and feel the mud with her front paw, perhaps to determine whether it is safe to take her weight. Upon checking her spot pattern I identified the Leopard to be Nelum Wila Female 3 (NWFC 3). (with Guide Tissa Ratnayake)
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6th June 2019 at 4.25pm one Leopard at Kokkare Villu. N 08.41940, E 079.99257
Upon observing fresh pug marks of a Leopard moving from the direction of Nelum Wila towards Kokkare Villu we drove up and down and Tissa was able to spot the leopard lying down under a bush. I managed to get a few images adequate to identify the spot pattern. It was a brief sighting as the Leopard moved further in to the forest. The Leopard was Nelum Wila Female 3 (NWFC 3). (with Guide Tissa Ratnayake)
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2nd February 2019 at 4.50pm one Leopard at Madangaha Wala. N 08.41524, E 079.99699
We spotted the Leopard lying on the ground in the glade beyond the water hole. Spotted Deer had already started too give out alarm calls announcing the presence of the Leopard. Later upon examining its spot pattern I identified it as the Nelum Wila Female 3 (NWFC 3), which I have observed from the time, it’s was a cub. As we had to reach the park entrance by 6.00pm we left. ( with Guide Tissa Ratnayake)
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27th January 2019 at 8.02am one Leopard at Nelum Wila N 08.40405, E 079.98243.
The Leopard was walking towards our direction with two vehicles following her. Unfortunately for us she moved in to the forest upon our arrival. I managed to get a few images of her left flank enabling me to identify her as the Nelum Wila Female 3 (NWFC 3). (with guide D.M.Wasantha)
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27th May 2018 at 12.47pm before driving to the bungalow for lunch I decided to drive down to Madangaha Wala to record the GPS reading of the former leopard sighting. While checking the reading we heard the low growl of a leopard and decided park at bordering the open glade.
1.04pm Two Leopards at Madangaha Wala. N 08.41539, E 079.99796
A female Leopard emerged from the thicket followed by another male. Later upon checking their spot patterns I was able to ID them as Nelum Wila Female 3 (NWFC 3) and Nelum Wila Male 5 (NWMC 5). It was wonderful to see these youngster siblings chasing each other and play fighting like a pair of domestic cats. We watched them for about 10 minutes and left to proceed to the bungalow. ( with Guide Tissa Rtnayake)
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18th February 2018 at 10.45am Nelum Wila Female 3 (NWFC – 3) at Nelum Wila Pitiya. N 08.40622, E 079.98846
The Leopard had moved in to a patch of tall grass before we arrived. A few Safari jeeps remained in expectation of the leopard to move out in to the open. In a short while we spotted the leopard looking intently in the direction of Maila Wewa road where there was a small heard of Spotted Deer behind a patch of forest. As it was an open field we were able to see the leopard as well as the Deer. She moved with her body close to the ground taking cover of the forest patch between them and disappeared in to the same. I drove to the far end of the “pitiya” and managed to get a few more photos of her partly concealed in the foliage. But the Deer detected the young leopard and fled. After a few minutes she moved in to the forest. ( with guide Tissa Ratnayake)
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15th October 2017 at 2.00pm one Leopard at Nelum Wila Pitiya. N 08.40550, E 079.98946.
It was lying on a mound of earth about 15 feet inside the forest at the beginning of the road to Maila Wewa. I m grateful to Susil of Dolosmahe Guest House for informing of the location of this leopard and photographer Sivagajan Arudchelvam who kindly moved his vehicle permitting me to take a few images. Upon examination of the images I was able to identify the leopard as Nelum Wila Female 3 (NWFC 3). I was told that the leopard had been sleeping at this location for more than 2 hours. I got a few images and moved out. ( with guide Tissa Ratnayake)
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1st October 2017 at 7.32am one Leopard at Nelum Wila. N 08.40405, E 079.98243.
It was Nelum Wila Female 3 (NWFC 3). The young female was lying down on a sand patch and moved further in with the arrival of another vehicle. We managed to get a few images of this unique feline born with its eyes in two colours. (with Guide Tissa Ratnayake)
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25th June 2017 at 10.32am a Leopard cub of about 5 months close to Kokkare Villu junction. N 08.41201, E 079,98714
It was on the road for a few minutes and moved in to the forest towards Kokkare Villu. As the leopard did not come back on to the road I moved forward and spotted it on a Weera tree about 15 feet from the road. It was hardly visible. After a few minutes the young leopard pounced on an Indian Palm Squirrel but failed to succeed. Thereafter she climbed down and moved in to the forest. This is my first sighting of this female cub. Having examined the images taken by some other visitors I was able to identify this leopard as one of the cubs seen at Nelum Wila. I named it Nelum Wila Female 3 (NWFC 3). (with guide D.M.Wasantha)
