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6th June 2019 at 5.00pm 2 Leopards at Borupan junction. N 08.41648, E 080.02549
We arrived from Sudu Muwa Wala and spotted the two Leopards walking in the direction of Walas Wala. It was an adult female and her young female cub. Even though they were together the adult female did not show any affection to her cub despite the cub being quite playful and affectionate towards her mother. Upon examining the spot patterns I was quite pleased to note that this is Borupan Wila Female 2 (BWF 2) with her cub Borupan Wila Female 4 (BWFC 3), the sibling of the Leopard I photographed in the morning at Borupan Wila. The Leopards walked a short distance and moved back in to the forest. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)
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18th November 2018 at 4.25pm one Leopard between Kumbuk Wila sand patch and Borupan junction. N 0841862, E 080.01897
While driving in the direction of Borupan junction we spotted a leopard on to our left. She was seated and I managed to get a few images while handholding the camera. As I photographed her I realized that this is Borupan Female 2 (BWF 2) the mother of the two Borupan cubs BWFC 3 & BWFC 4. She started to walk towards the road and trotted across the road. Thereafter she walked deep in to the forest. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)
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28th July 2018 at 6.57am 3 Leopards between Borupan junction and Borupan Wila. N 08.41996, E 080.02377
Having noticed the alarm calls of the Grey Langur’s we stopped the vehicle and listened. The calls were moving towards the road. I angled the vehicle in expectation of a leopard moving on to the road. After a few minutes Borupan Wila Female 2 (BWF 2) and her two female cubs, Borupan Wila Female 3 (BWFC 3) and the cub I had not photographed Borupan Pitiya Leopard 3 walked on to the road. The mother as usual was quite keen to move out of sight. They walked in the direction of Borupan Wila and moved in to the forest. I was able to capture few images of the second female cub I did not have and named it Borupan Wila Female 4 (BWFC 4). The cubs are one year old now. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)
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23rd March 2018 at 5.04pm one Leopard between Borupan Junction and Walas Wala. N 08.41560, E 080. 02744
It was Borupan Wila Female 2 (BWF 2). The leopard was lying down at a depressed part of the road and was hardly visible. I parked at a distance of about 50 yards to ensure that the animal is not disturbed. Having got a few images we decided to advance the vehicle further for a better view. The leopard was quite relaxed but stood up and walked in to the forest upon the arrival of two other vehicles. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)
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29th July 2017 at 5.15pm one leopard at Borupan Wila. N 08.42695, E 080.02007
We arrived at Borupan Wila from Thimbiri Wila and spotted a Sambhur antler lying at the edge of the water. After a few minutes a Barking Deer made a few alarm calls and the Sambhur stood up and started looking in the direction of the forest intently. The raised tail and stamping the ground indicated that the animal had detected the presence of a Leopard. The Painted Storks moved out of the water and walked in the direction of the forest edge as well. In less than a minute a Leopard emerged from the forest edge and lay down under a bush. Even though the Sambhur was injured the leopard did not show any interest but was alerted by the arrival of a Barking Deer. The female Leopard, later identified as Borupan Wila Female 2 (BWF 2) stalked and charged the Barking Deer but the small herbivore managed to escape while making a few frantic alarm calls. When the leopard stood up the Painted Storks that walked in the direction of the leopard flew off instantly and perched about 30 feet away form the leopard. We left the leopard, as we had to reach the park entrance by 6.30pm. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)
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28th July 2017 at 11.30am one Leopard at Borupan Wila. N 08.42701, E 080.02008
We drove from Thimbiri Wila and as we entered Borupan Wila spotted a Leopard walking away from the water with a number of Painted Storks following it. Distance between the birds and the leopards was not more than 15 feet. The leopard, Borupan Wila Female 2 (BWF 2) walked hurriedly and the birds followed her until she disappeared in to the forest. After the Leopard disappeared in to the forest the Painted Storks walked back to the water. It was a very brief sighting of less than a minute. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)
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21st January 2017 at 2.40pm one leopard, between Borupan junction and Walas Wala. N 08.41461, E 080.02996.
It was an adult female of about 5 years of age. That walked from Walas Wala in the direction of Borupan junction for a short distance before entering the forest. Upon examination of the photos I realized that this is the elusive adult female leopard that had eluded me for such a long time. I had photographed the two cubs of her first litter (Kumbuk Wila Female 1 (KWFC 1) and Borupan Wila Male 2 (BWMC 2) in 2014 and the playful female cub of her second litter Kumbuk Wila Female 1 KWFC 2 in 2016. I had only managed to photograph the hind of this leopard walking in to the forest at the Kumbuk Wila sand patch on 3rd of April 2015. I was thrilled that I had finally managed to get a few photos of this elusive leopard that I had kept track of based on photos sent in by people who contribute to my study of the leopards. I named it Borupan Wila Female 2 (BWF 2). (with guide Wasantha)
