Mammals ‹‹ Go Back

This is the second largest cat species in the country and is found close to water-associated habitat through out the country except for the extreme north. Other than in Sri Lanka this species is also native to India, Nepal & Bangladesh. It is very rare in Thailand and Cambodia.   

The conservation status of this species is regarded as endangered (National Red List 2012).

This is a species strictly protected under schedule ii of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance as amended by Act No. 22 of 2009.

This is a nocturnal species, which is seldom seen during the day. They are found in most wetland areas and water related habitat from the highest mountains to the dry lowlands. They are still found in the water bodies close to the city of Colombo. I have seen them close to the Open University in Nawala, at Bellanwila Attidiya, Kotte Marshes and Thalangama marshes.

In Wilpattu I was fortunate enough to observe a mother with two playful kittens at Hunuwilagama tank close to the park entrance around 9pm on the 26th of July 2018 and managed to get few images with the help of a torch. I thankful to Namal Kamalgoda and Hemantha Wimalasena of Wilpattu Safari Camp for informing me of these cats enabling me to observe and photograph them.