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7th January 2023 at 1.12pm one leopard at Thimbiri Wila. N 08.42680, E 080.01279
It was a young male leopard and was stalking a herd of Spotted Deer. I managed to get some images as he moved quickly from one bush to another. Despite his efforts to conceal himself some Spotted Deer detected him and started making alarm calls. After some time, he broke cover and emerged through a large bush. There after he walked out and permitting us to get a few good images. It was Boralu Wala Male 1 (BRWMC 1). This leopard was often seen, with its mother, the Boralu Wala Female 2 (BRWFC 2), between Ibba Wala and and Boralu Wala from April 2021. On the 10th and 11th of December 2022 I saw him at Borupan Wila and Borupan Pitiya respectively. This is the first time he was seen at Thimbiri Wila. Later, that day I was told that he had moved back to Borupan Wila by evening.
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10th December 2022 at 3.30pm one leopard at Borupan Wila. N 08.42573, E 080.02257
It was a young male leopard and was seated in one of the small “islands of bushes” found at this locality. After about 10 minutes he moved out cautiously and moved quickly in to another such “island”. There after he walked into the tall grass (Borupan) and moved out of sight. Having checked its spot pattern I was pleased to note that this is the Boralu Wala Male 1 (BRWMC 1), that used to be seen between Ibba Wala and Boralu Wala.
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11th December 2022 at 9.00am one leopard on a tree at Borupan Pitiya. N 08.42405, E 080.02591
As there was a leopard at Borupan Wila the day before I decided to turn right at Borupan junction and drive towards Borupan Wila. Upon my arrival heard Spotted Deer alarm calls from Borupan Pitiya and drove down to check. Soon I spotted a leopard lying on the branch of a Madang tree overlooking the open glade. It was Boralu Wala Male 1 (BRWMC 1), the same leopard photographed at Borupan Wila the day before evening. Around 10.43am with the sun light becoming stronger the young male climbed down the tree and walked towards Viranda Wala. He then started to stalk some deer feeding on the plains but soon gave it up and moved into the forest towards Viranda Wala around 11.27am. I was quite surprised that no other vehicles arrived at Borupan pitiya throughout this sighting, despite it being a Sunday. This young male is two years and 3 months now.
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14th October 2022 at 12.15pm one leopard between Borupan Wila and Borupan Junction. E 08.41712, E 080.02455
It was a young male and moved into the forest with the arrival of another safari jeep. After observing the leopard for some time, I reversed some distance to give the animal some space and the jeep ahead did the same. Within a short time, the cat moved on to the edge of the road and walked across to the opposite side of the forest permitting me to get a few clear images. Later upon the examination of the spot pattern I noted that this is Boralu Wala Male 1 (BRWMC 1). This young male is around two years now. My last sighting of this male was in August this year at Humbas Wala.
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14th August 2022 at 5.25pm a leopard at lying by the man-made pool of water at Humbas Wala. N 08.40412, E 080.04815
It was Boralu Wala Male 1 (BRWMC 1). The young male looked quite tired and had its eyes closed even despite our vehicle being on the bund. I captured a few quick images and left.
(With guide Tissa Ratnayake)
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14th November 2021 at 7.30am one Leopard at Humbas Wala. N 08.40412, E 080.04815
Even though the animal could be seen through the foliage I had no clear view adequate for any photography. I decided to wait a while expecting the leopard to brake cover. After some time, the jeeps ahead of me indicated that the leopard in walking in my direction. Around 7.55am I observed a young male through the foliage. Fortunately, he climbed on to a tree for a brief while permitting me to get a few record images through the foliage. Later upon examination of its spot pattern I noted that this is Boraluwala Male 1 (BRWMC 1). He is now around 2 years and two months.
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4th September 2021 at 5.21pm a Leopard at Boralu Wala. N 08.40781, E 080.04263
The Leopard was seated at the edge of water on to the right. It was Boralu Wala Male 1 (BRWMC 1), the same young male leopard that we had photographed in the morning on the opposite side of Boralu Wala. Upon our arrival he climbed up the embankment and took cover behind a small mound of earth.
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4th September 2021 at 9.21am a Leopard at Boralu Wala. N 08.40768, E 080.04290
It was a young male leopard and was seen at the opening to the right. It was a brief sighting. The young male leopard stood up and walked into the forest within a few minutes. Later upon examination of its spot pattern I noted that this is Boralu Wala Male 1 (BRWMC 1), one of the two cubs of the first litter of Boralu Wala Female 2 (BRWFC 2). This is my second sighting of this leopard with the first being in April this year at the same location.
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15th April 2021 at 5.28pm one Leopard at Walas Wala. N 08.40781, E 080.04263
It was a male cub and was lying on a branch of a “Palu” tree growing on the bank across Boralu Wala. After taking some images we left as we were already late to reach the park entrance on time. Upon examination of its spot pattern, I realized that this is the single surviving cub of the first litter of two cubs of Boralu Wala Female 2 (BRWFC 2) that I had been looking forward to seeing during my previous visits without any success. I had included this cub in the Leopards of Wilpattu - Guest section on my site under the name Humbas Wala Leopard 1. Having looked at the images sent to me by Hemantha Wimalasena on 14th November 2020 and 7th January 2021 I was able to determine the age of this cub to be around 7 - 8 months. This is my first sighting of this leopard. I named it Boralu Wala Male 1 with the code (BRWMC 1) for the purpose of my study.
