Leopards of Wilpattu

3 Sightings

Walas Wala Female 3 - WWFC 3

Locations of sightings

Walas Wala, Borupan Junction, Sudu Muwa Wala Road

First Sighting

19th July 2014 4.07pm

30th August 2014 at 2.35pm 3 Leopards, (mother and two cubs) Walas Wala Female 2 (WWF 2), Walas Wala Male 2 (WWMC 2) and Walas Wala Female 3 ( WWFC 3) crossed the road towards Sudu Muwa Wala between Borupan junction and Walas Wala. N 08.41602, E 080.02642.
Even though I photographed these two cubs at Walas Wala on the 19th of July 2014 and yesterday morning I had no knowledge of the identity of their mother until this sighting. Having photographed them together I was able to identify the adult female as the Walas Wala Female 2 (WWF 2) that I had photographed at Walas Wala on 12th October 2013. The three leopards having crossed the main road crossed the Sudu Muwa Wala road and moved in to the forest. They were not seen thereafter. (with guide Thisara)

29th August 2014 at 6.47am 3 Leopards at Borupan junction. N08.41673, E 080.02476
Walas Wala Female 3 (WWFC 3), Walas Wala Male 2 (WWMC 2) and an adult female leopard, which could not be photographed well as she was walking towards Kumbuk Wila. The two cubs did not follow the mother and walked in to the forest in the opposite direction towards Walas Wala. (with guide podi Danushka)

19th July 2014 4.07pm Upon being informed of sightings of two leopard cubs at Walas Wala I parked and waited at this water hole continiuosly from 8.30am. My patience paid off when 2 Leopards cubs of about 5-6 months age walked on to the Walas Wala bund by 4,07pm. N 08.41419, E 080.03077.
One cub cautiously walked on to the bund and was lying down when its sibling pounced on it and started to play. They were extremely playful. After a while they walked down to the grass on the dried up bed of the water hole. Their favorite game was to hide in the grass and pounce at each other, which ends up in a chase and a play fight until they break up and start all over again. While playing one found a dried up piece of Elephant dung and started to run around carrying it in its mouth followed by the other. The cubs played for more than an hour. They were not disturbed by the vehicles on the road. At 5.29 a male Sloth Bear walked on to the bund and the two Leopard cubs instantly ran in different directions in to the forest at great speed. After the bear had left one came on to the bund and started calling out. Later it walked in the direction where its sibling entered the forest. This is my first sighting of these cubs. I named the male as Walas Wala Male 2 (WWMC 2) and the female Walas Wala Female 3 (WWFC 3). (with guide podi Danushka)