Leopards of Wilpattu

7th March 2023 at 9.45am Upon hearing the alarm calls of a Barking Deer and the Jungle Fowl we drove towards the road to Lunu Wewa and spotted a female leopard. N 08.42612, E 080.02448
She crossed the road and moved in the direction of Borupan Pitiya. Upon checking her spot pattern, I noted that it was Borupan Wila Female 4 (BWFC 4).

17th August 2019 at 5.18pm one Leopard at Borupan Pitiya. N 08.42470, E080.02704

It was a young female leopard and was lying down under a tree. We had no clear view of the animal. After some time, much to our relief, she stood up and moved across an open space permitting me to take a few images. She walked in the direction of Wilanda Wala and disappeared in to the forest. Upon checking its spot patterns I identified the Leopard as Borupan Wila Female 4 (BWFC 4), one of the two female cubs of Borupan Wila Female 2 (BWF 2). I have records of these cubs from the time she was a month old, “blue eyed” cub. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)

8th June 2019 at 9.57am 2 Leopards between Borupan junction and Kumbuk Wila sand patch.

N 08.41746, E 080.02265
As we arrived at Borupan junction I noted that a safari jeep was parked at a distance and the driver flashed the headlights. I approached cautiously to find two Leopards lying close to each other by the side of the road. I was able to identify the two female Leopards as Broupan Wila Female 3 & 4 (BWFC 3 & 4). The two siblings were on the road together for about forty minutes and BWFC 4 moved in to the forest. BWFC 3 remained for about 7 minutes and walked in to the forest in the opposite direction. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)

6th June 2019 at 7.45am as we arrived at Borupan Wila observed a female Leopard at the waters edge across the water. N 08.42382, E080.02408

She walked along the edge of the water and having picked a spot lowered her body to the ground and started to drink. I have observed on many occasions that Leopards, unlike most other animals, will take time to select a spot from where to drink. Upon examining the spot pattern I identified this Leopard to be Borupan Wila Female 4 (BWFC 4). Having quenched its thrust she walked back to the forest. This is one of the two female cubs of the third litter of Borupan Wila Female 2 (BWF 2). Photography was not great due to the distance but I was thrilled to have had a Leopard sighting so early in my game drive. This female is now one year and 10 months and should leave its mother in a few more months to establish a territory of her own. I have observed when the cubs are first seen with their mother they are around 3 months old and will always stay at the location where their mother leaves them when going out to look for prey. As they grow older they will venture out for short distances. As they get closer to the time of leaving the mother they often spend much of the day exploring the mothers territory for longer periods of time on their own.

8.36am a Leopard at Thimbiri Wila end of Borupan Wila. N 08.42681, E 080.02055

The Leopard walked along the edge of the forest, stopped to defecate and continued its walk in to the forest. Upon examining the spot pattern I identified this Leopard to be Borupan Wila Female 4 (BWFC 4), the same female that I photographed earlier at the other end of Borupan Wila. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)

2nd March 2019 at 2.38pm one Leopard at Borupan pitiya. N 08.42598, E 080.02702

The Leopard was a sleep in a depression under a bush and was hardly visible. As there were few vehicle parked I moved to a distance to permit others to get a glimpse of the Leopard. Any photography was only possible if the Leopard stood up.
2.56pm The Leopard was alerted by something and moved out in to the open permitting me to take a few record shots through the grass before going back to sleep under the bush. Upon examination of the spot pattern I was able to identify it as the Borupan Wila Female 4 (BWFC 4). (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)

It was on a tree about 20 feet beyond the water hole. I managed to get a few images but had to leave within a few minutes to give way to the other vehicles that started to arrive. Later having examined the spot pattern I was able to identify the Leopard as Borupan Wila Female 4 (BWFC 4), one of the two female cubs of the third litter of Borupan Wila Female 2 (BWF 2).

10.27am we arrived at Wilanda Wala again to check on the Leopard. Within seconds of our arrival the Leopard stood up on the branch and climbed down the tree permitting me to get a few good images. (with guide D.M.Wasantha)

At Borupan pitiya the jeep drivers informed us that they observed a Leopard and it moved in to the thicket about 30 minutes before my arrival. We searched the area and were able to spot the leopard at a distance but were partly covered by bushes. It was Borupan Wila Female 4 (BWFC 4). After a few minutes she broke cover started to stalk some prey permitting me to get a few good images. With the arrival of a number of vehicles and the increase in human voices the young leopard moved back in to cover.

11.52am Borupan Wila Female 4 (BWFC 4) at Wilanda Wala end of Borupan pitiya. N 08.42521, E 080.02734

We spotted the leopard sleeping on an earth mound. As we arrived she raised her head to look at as us but went back too sleep. We left the leopard to reach Maradanmaduwa for lunch. (with guide Tissa Ratnayake)

24th October 2018 at 8.30am 2 Leopards between Kumbuk Wila sand patch and Borupan junction. N 08.41827, E 080.02020

The two young female leopards were seated together by the side o the road and one moved across the road as we approached them. In less than 10 minutes she moved out again to join her sister. Having checked their spot pattern I identified them as Borupan Wila Female 3 & 4 (BWFC 3& 4). The one that moved across the road as we approached was BWFC 4. These two cubs are around 1 year and three months now. I was able to observe them for almost an hour.

2.46am one Leopard between Kumbuk Wila sand patch and Borupan junction.  N 08.41826, E 080.02012

It was Borupan Wila Female 4 (BWFC 4). The young leopard has climbed on to a log by the side of the road. It was seated exposed to moderate rain and started to lick its self. She moved in to the forest upon the arrival of a few other vehicles.
(with guide Tissa Ratnayake)

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)