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29th March 2022 at 12.55pm one Leopard between Humbas Wala and Ibba Wala. N 08.40237, E 080.05030
A safari jeep was parked just beyond Humbas Wala. The jeep driver Lahiru informed me that they followed a big male Leopard walking towards Humbas Wala, and he moved into the forest. I turned the vehicle and decided to drive down to Humbas Wala and wait as I expected the leopard to move back on to the road again and continue its walk. While driving down I spotted the leopard lying down behind a termite hill and managed to get a few images. It was Maradanmaduwa Male 3 (MMM 3) on my site, popularly referred to as “Gota” by the guides and jeep drivers. Within a few minutes of waiting the leopard walked on to the road and walked in my direction. I managed to get a few good images of the advancing leopard. Having walked close to the vehicle he moved back into the forest. My last sighting of this leopard was in February 2020.
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3rd February 2020 at 6.47am one Leopard at Maradanmaduwa. N 08.37157, E 080. 07440
It was a big male leopard and he was marking the bushes by the side of the road. It was a very brief sighting as the animal quickly moved in to the forest. Upon examination of its spot pattern I was pleased to note that this is Maradanmaduwa Male 3 (MMM 3), referred to as “Gota” by the guides and jeep drivers. (with guide Hashan Madushanka)
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7th June 2019 at 3.49pm one Leopard at Ibba Wala. N 08.39538, E 080.05629
Upon being informed of a Leopard we left Thammanna Wala and reached Ibba Wala to observe one adult male Leopard lying down close to the water hole. After a few minutes the Leopard stood up and walked in to the forest. I noted that it had a slight limp when walking and wished that it should heal fast as any injury that retards the ability of a predator to hunt can be life threatening. Upon studying the spot pattern I identified the leopard to be Maradanmaduwa Male 3 (MMM 3) popularly referred to as “Gota” by the guides and jeep drivers. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)
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29th July 2018 at 12.31pm One Leopard at Maradanmaduwa. N 08.37917, E 080.07514
My guide Tissa spotted the leopard sleeping under a Thimbiri Tree at the foot of Maradanmaduwa bund. It was partially visible and was covered by the broad leaves of the tree. I stopped the vehicle to take at least a record shot when the leopard raised its head to look at us through the foliage and moved further under the tree and was not visible. I was thrilled to note that this is the big male leopard referred to as “Gota” by the jeep drivers and guides. It is listed as Maradanmaduwa Leopard 1 under “Leopards of Wilpattu- Guest” section on my site. It is yet another leopard that I had received images taken by others from as far back as December 2015 but had not photographed my self. As the animal went back to sleep we decided to do a drive and come back later. I named it Maradanmaduwa Male 3 (MMM 3). I estimated its age to be around 6 and a half.
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5.27pm one Leopard Maradanmaduwa Male 3 (MMM3) at Maradanmaduwa.
We arrived at the spot where the leopard was sleeping and spotted him still sleeping under the Thimbiri tree. While we were observing the leopard heard the noise of branches being broken, which was followed by the appearance of an Elephant. The sleeping leopard was disturbed by the approaching Elephant and woke up. He started to lick its paws for a while and moved out in to the open permitting me to take a few images. Having looked in our direction for a few minutes the leopard started to move up the bund and was not visible due to the tall shrubs. I immediately reversed the vehicle and slightly angled it to allow me to get a few images. As expected the leopard moved on to the bund, looked in our direction and moved down to the tank to drink. I decided to leave the leopard and drive off in order to reach the park entrance by 6.30pm. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)
