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12th August 2023 at 6.04pm one Leopard at Percy Bendi Wewa. N 08.33393, E 080.12952
The adult female leopard was drinking water when we arrived. Within a few minutes she moved away from the water’s edge to lie down on a mound at the edge of the forest. Later upon examining the images I was pleased to note that this is Maradanmaduwa Female 3 (MMF 3). The last record I have of this female was in December 2021 close to Thammanna Wala. This is one of the two female cubs of the second litter of Maradanmaduwa Female 1 (MMFC 1). Usually, female cubs are known to establish their territories close to that of their mothers, but this female has moved about 8 KM from the place of its birth in Maradanmaduwa. Her sibling, Maradanmaduwa Female 2 (MMF 2) has established her territory just outside Maradanmaduwa down Maha Wewa Road and had her first litter of two cubs. This leopardess is six years and 7 months of age but there have not been any reports of her having any cubs yet. (With Dilki, Dr Srinath & Vasanta Seneviratne)
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22nd December 2021 at 6.18am one Leopard between Paaluwilanda junction and Thammanna Wala. N 08.34138, E 080.12154
It was a female and was walking in the direction of Thamanna Wala. After walking on the road for about 30 meters she moved into the forest. I managed to get only a few record images as the early morning mist and low light made photography quite challenging. Later upon examination of its sot pattern I was pleased to note that it is Maradanmaduwa Female 3 (MMF 3), one of the two female cubs of the second litter of the famed Maradanmaduwa female 1 who has raised 4 litters of cubs so far. This female was seen close to Percy Bendi Wewa from March 2020 and has been seen around this area since then. She is around 6 years now, but I have received no records of her having cubs so far.
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6th March 2020 at 5.47pm a Leopard between Thammanna Wala and Percy Bendi Wewa. N 08.33915, E 080.12389
The female Leopard was seated on the left edge of the road and was observing some ting to her right. Her behavior indicated that she was focused on the movements of some prey. As I was photographing she moved across the road and started to run away from us while having her attention on some animal in the undergrowth. Thereafter she moved in to the forest. Upon examining her spot pattern I noted that this is the same female I observed in the morning, Maradanmaduwa Female 3 (MMF 3). As the leopard moved in to the forest we drove off a short distance beyond Percy Bendi Wewa, turned back and arrived at the same location to find the Leopard on the road again. Unfortunately she was disturbed by another vehicle that arrived and moved in to the forest. (with guide Tissa Ratanayake)
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6th March 2020 at 7.34am one Leopard between Percy Bendi Wewa and Paaluwinlandawa junction.
N 08.33618, E 080.12701
We spotted the leopard at the “Boralu Wala” beyond the turn off to Makalanmaduwa road. The animal was hardly visible as it was lying down behind a fallen log. Thankfully in a few minutes the leopard broke cover and walked on to a mound of earth. It was a young female and she was observing something in the undergrowth. Perhaps staking some prey. Prior to walking in to the forest she looked back in our direction permitting me to get a few images of her face. Later upon examination of her spot pattern I was delighted to find that this is one of the two female cubs of the Maradanmaduwa Female 1 (MMFC 1), which I had not seen before. I have named her as Maradanmaduwa Leopard 4 under Leopards of Wilpattu – Guest section. As this is my first sighting of this leopard I named it as Maradanmaduwa Female 3 (MMF 3). Based on the age of her sibling, Maradanmaduwa Female 2 (MMFC 2), I had already photographed as a cub she is around 3 years and 2 months now. The distance between Maradanmaduwa where she was born and Percy Bendi Wewa is almost 8km. Usually female cubs are known to remain close to their mother’s territory upon leaving the mother. (with guide Tissa Ratanayake)
