Leopards of Wilpattu

11 Sightings

Kudapatessa Female 1 - KPFC 1

Locations of sightings

Kudapatessa, road between Kokkare Weli Kanda to Kudapatessa & Kuruttupandi Villu, Mahapatessa, Demata Wila, Eriyakkulampooval

First Sighting

31st August 2012 at 5.50pm.

All sightings of Author & Guests

9th April 2010 at 4.56pm Demata Wila – Namal Kamalgoda
20th August 2010 at 5.30pm Mahapatessa – Palitha Antony
31st August 2012 5.50pm with KPMC 1at Kudapattessa - KG
1st September 2012 5.45pm with KPMC 1 at Kudapattessa - KG
25th November 2012 10.30am between Kudapatessa and Mahapatessa - KG
19th January 2013 5.15pm between Kokkare Villu & Kurutupandi Villu Junction - KG
22nd September 2013 3.55pm at Kuruttupandi Villu - KG
26th March 2014 11.00am at Kudapatessa – Hemantha Wimalasena
12th May 2014 10.10am Mahapatessa – Hemantha Wimalasena
9th August 2014 4.13pm Eriyakkulampooval – Hemantha Wimalasena
29th August 2014 4.33pm with a small cub of about 3 moths, between Mahpatessa and Kudapatessa - KG
1st February 2015 11.58pm at Kokkare Villu - KG
24th March 2015 at 10.07am Kokkare Villu – Indika Nettigama
30th March 2015 at Kokkare Villu mating with KSPMC 2 – Namal Kamalgoda
25th July 2015 11.04am between Kudapatessa and Mahapatessa - KG
16th April 2016 7.46am at Kokkare Villu – Enoka Mohotti
1st September 2016 5.03pm at Kokkare Villu – Dineth Koralage
5th November 2016 7.44am at Kokkare Villu – KG
25th May 2017 1.13pm at Eriyakkulampooval – Anton Gihan
28th May 2017 5.40pm at Kokkare Villu with a cub of about a month – Samantha
4th June 2017 2.01pm at Mahapatessa – KG
17th June 2017 6.16am between Kumbuk Wila and Mahapatessa – Adheesha Salpitikorala
4th September 2017 4.20pm at Demata Wila – Ismail Salahudeen
7th October 2017 7.24am Kumbuk Wila to Mahapatessa – Balamurali Ellamurugan
14th October 2017 7.24am Kumbuk Wila to Mahapatessa – Isuru Chathuranga
20th October 2017 7.05am Kumbuk Wila to Mahapatessa - Isuru Chathuranga
24th October 2017 3.36pm Kokkare Villu – Isuru Chathuranga
15th November 2017 8.03am at Mahapatessa on a Wild Boar kill – Hemantha Wimalasena
16th November 2017 9.10am at Mahapatessa on a Wild Boar Kill – KG
16th November 2017 1.37pm at Mahapatessa on a Wild Boar kill – Adheesha Salpitikorala
14th December 2017 11.21am at Mahapatessa – Enoka Mohotty
30th December 2017 10.41am at Kumbuk Wila – Enoka Mohotty
31st December 2017 1.15pm at Mahapatessa – Enoka Mohotty
8th January 2018 9.45am on Kumbuk Wila Upper road – Hemantha Wimalasena
24th January 2018 9.30am at Kudapatessa – Hemantha Wimalasena
27th January 2018 9.19am between Kumbuk Wila and Mahapatessa – Ranjan Josiah
24th March 2018 7.18am at Kokkare Villu with a single one month old cub – C.K.Dissanayake
16th April 2018 4.20pm at Mahapatessa – Yasith Rajapaksha

16th November 2017 at 9.10am one Leopard arrived at the kill. N 08.43257, E 080.00440

It was Kudapatessa Female 1 (KPFC 1). She walked up to the kill, which was few feet from the edge of the forest and dragged it closer to the edge before starting to feed. She exhibited her extreme strength is pulling this massive carcass with ease. Having fed for about 6 minutes she moved back in to the forest. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)

Kudapatessa Female 1-KPFC 1 - 16th November 2017 at 9.10am

4th June 2017 at 2.10pm one Leopard, Kudapatessa Female 1 (KPFC 1) at Mahapatessa. N 08.43070, E080.00392

We were on our way to Demata Wila when the Leopard was spotted across the water body. She drank for almost 8 minutes before walking back to the jungle. On the 28th of May this female was seen at Kokkare Villu with a cub of about 1 month. ( with guide Tissa Ratnayake)

Kudapatessa Female 1-KPFC 1 - 4th June 2017 at 2.10pm

5th November 2016 at 7.44am 1 Leopard, Kudapatessa Female 1 (KPFC 1) at Kokkare Villu.N 08.41633, E079.99589.

We drove towards Kokkare Villu from Kumbuk Wila and spotted the leopard seated on the edge of the forest. She was stalking a herd of Spotted Deer across the road. After a few minutes the leopard stood up and walked hurriedly across the road and moved behind some bushes about 30 feet from the deer. Even though we were not able to see her at this point it was apparent that the deer had not detected her presence as they continued to feed and no alarm calls were made. We spotted the leopard again in a few minutes emerging from the bushes and walking further in to the forest. I do not know as to why the leopard did not even make an effort to make a kill despite getting so close to the Deer. (with Guide Dinesh Kumara)

Kudapatessa Female 1-KPFC 1 - 5th November 2016 at 7.44am

25th July 2015 at 11.04am, KPFC 1 between Kudapatessa and Mahapatessa. I was driving from Kudapatessa and met the Leopard walking towards Kudapatessa. I immediately turned off the engine and photographed the leopard. Having realized that this female is not too comfortable with vehicles I reversed my vehicle to give it adequate space. Unfortunately for me just at that time a convoy of vehicles arrived and the leopard quickly moved in to the forest. N 08.43225, E 079.99649

Kudapatessa Female 1-KPFC 1 - 25th July 2015 at 11.04am

1st February 2015 at 11.58pm 1 leopard on a Madan Tree at Kokkare Villu. Examination and comparison of the photos at home with my database confirmed that it is Kudapatessa Female 1 (KPFC 1) N 08.41879, E079.99272
As we arrived the leopard was sleeping on a branch but was not clearly visible. However sunlight was falling directly on the nearly branches and was moving in the direction of the sleeping leopard. I have, on many occasions, observed leopards shifting their position to avoid sunlight falling on them when they are resting. Thus I expected this leopard to do the same. My expectation was for it to move on to the main branch where there was shade or climb down enabling me to take a few photos upon being exposed to direct sunlight. Around 1.00pm with a few patches of sunlight falling on its paws the leopard sat upright and started to call out. There after it moved on to the main branch, climbed down the tree and disappeared in to the forest. The clear view of the leopard lasted less than a minute but I was pleased with the few photos, which was more than adequate to determine the identification. There after intermittent “sawing” calls were heard from the forest. In August 2014 I photographed this leopard between Mahapatessa and Kudapatessa, accompanying a cub of about 3-4 months. (with Isuru Tillakawardena, Batiya Senadhipathy and Guide Ratnayaka)

Kudapatessa Female 1-KPFC 1 - 1st February 2015 at 11.58pm

29th August 2014 at 4.33pm 2 Leopards, KPF 1 with a small cub of about 3 moths, between Mahpatessa and Kudapatessa. N 8 25.878, E 79 59.649.
They were walking towards Kudapatessa. I was able to get some record photos with which I managed to identify the adult female . KPF 1 had its tail bent to a side at the tip. (with guide podi Danushka)

Kudapatessa Female 1-KPFC 1 - 29th August 2014 at 4.33pm

22nd September 2013 3.55pm 1 Leopard, KPFC 1 at Kuruttupandi Villu. N 8 26.187, E 79 58.948
It was seated under a bush at the edge of the Villu. After a few minutes it walked across to the small waterhole, drank for about 6 minutes and walked in to the jungle. She is quite big for a female and her due lap as noticeable as well. ( With guide podi Danushka)

Kudapatessa Female 1-KPFC 1 - 22nd September 2013 3.55pm.

19th January 2013 at 5.15pm1 Leopard walking ahead of the vehicle between Kokkare Villu towards Kurutupandi Villu Junction. N 8 25.798, E 79 58.988
It was KPFC 1. She was scent marking every 30-40 yards or so. It turned into the Kudapatessa road and walked ahead. I managed to get a few photos for identification. The sighting lasted about 25 minutes.

Kudapatessa Female 1-KPFC 1 - 19th January 2013 at 5.15pm

25th November 2012. 10.30am As we drove out of Kudapatessa in the direction of Mahapatessa just passing the tall Madu tree, a leopard was seen on the left hand side of the road. N 8 25.878, E 79 59.649.
It crossed the road and entered the jungle but emerged again about 50 feet ahead of us and walked towards Mahapatessa. It permitted me to take a few photos before entering the forest to our right. It was KPFC 1 (With my father Solomon Gunawardena, my mother Padmini Gunawardena and guide Saranga)

Kudapatessa Female 1-KPFC 1 - 25th November 2012. 10.30am

1st September 2012 at 5.45pm. 2 Leopards KPMC 1 & KPFC 1 at Kudapattessa. About 200 meters to the right across the villu. N 8 25.874, E 79 59.609.
They stalked two Barking Deer. (With guide Saranga)

Kudapatessa Female 1-KPFC 1 - 1st September 2012 at 5.45pm.

31st August 2012 at 5.50pm. 2 subadult Leopards of about 12-14 months at Kudapattessa. N 8 25. 874, E 79 59.609.
They were a male and a female. Named them KPMC 1 & KPFC 1. They were on the sand dunes to the right as you enter the Wila. The male came down very cautiously as if it was stalking the peafowl that were there and drank from a small pool. Thereafter it walked up the sand dune to join the female which was seated on top of the sand dune. (With guide Saranga)

Kudapatessa Female 1-KPFC 1 - 31st August 2012 at 5.50pm.