The Leopard (Pantheraperdus, Linnaeus 1758) is one of the largest carnivores. It is also the most secretive and difficult to find. It is the largest of all the large cats, and can climb higher than any other cat. The leopard is not the largest member of the genus Panthera. This includes the Tiger, Lion and Jaguar. The leopard was a widespread species that lived across Asia and Africa in ancient times. Its distribution ranged from Siberia to South Africa and fragmented populations were found in India, Sri Lanka, Indochina and Malaysia. Unfortunately, over hunting and habitat loss have caused a drastic decrease in the leopard's range.
Linnaeus' 1758 description of leopards in SystemaNaturae was published by Linnaeus. Various scientists have since described 27 subspecies.According to genetic (DNA) analysis in 1996, nine subspecies were identified.
Although leopards can be found in Sri Lanka's national parks including Kandy, there is no shortage of them in Yala National Park. It attracts the most visitors from around the globe. Mevan co-founded the 'Leopard Center' in this national park. This center was established in 2019 to protect and preserve wild cats. It is the first of its kind. You can find out more about these animals by visiting the center.
Because stealth is their primary weapon, leopards are not able to hunt in the same speed as cheetahs. They also don't need a large hunting area. They don't rely on any prey group which is why they are able to adapt to any environment. The number of leopards has decreased to between 700 and 950. The IUCN Red List has declared the Sri Lankan leopard endangered since 2008. These animals are being protected by wildlife authorities.
● Scientific Name:Pantherapardus
● Kingdom : Animal
● Class: Mammalia
● Order : Carnivora
● Family :Felidae
● Locations:Sri Lanka
● Population Trend:Decreasing
● Conservation Status:Endangered
The leopards are more stocky than the congeners. The tail measures more than half of the length of the body from head to tail. Their shoulder height is between 45 and 80 cm. They are able to climb trees because of their strong muscles attached to their scapula. They are sexually dimorphic with males at least 30% larger than their female counterparts, and mature males sporting large heads and broad foreheads. The Sri Lankan subspecies of leopard is the largest. This is due to the lack of large cats such as the lion, the tiger, and viz. It is the highest food chain with no competition from large prey. The leopard's colour ranges from straw to bright yellow brown with black spots and rosettes. On occasion, the melanistic (Black) form of the leopard has been found in the montane and wet zones of the island. It is not uncommon on the subcontinent, with Malaysian studies yielding 95% black specimens.
Leopards are carnivorous, and will eat a variety of animals including langurs, rats, langurs, and Sambur. In Sri Lanka, cat analysis revealed the remains of crabs and frogs as well as other small vertebrates and invertebrates.
Leopards are adaptable animals. They can adapt to different environments and even take over a stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. This was only discovered when domestic cats and dogs declined rapidly. Although leopards are mostly nocturnal, they can be found during the day, particularly in the mornings and the late afternoon. Except during mating season, when mother and cubs are present, they forage on their own.
The leopard's island-wide distribution is found in protected areas such as national parks and isolated forests in the hill country. The continents of Africa, Asia and Africa are home to leopards. However, they are declining in most areas. Only Sri Lanka is home to the subspecies PantheraPardusKotiya.
Sri Lanka's second-largest park is Yala National Park. It is located at the country's southeastern tip and is bordered on two sides by the sea. On the other, it borders local villages. It was designated a national park in 1939. The area covers almost 1,000 kilometers and is divided into five blocks, each with its own vegetation. Only two blocks are open to the public: block 1 and block 5. Block 1 is the most crowded and popular, and is where most day-trippers go. Block 5 is about an hour away from the main area with most of the hotels and jeeps available for hire. There are forests, scrubs and grasslands throughout the park, as well as lagoons and all other types of vegetation. The park even has a reservoir. The park is now protected for its 44 mammal species, and 215 birds. However, it was once the hunting ground of the British elite during colonial times. Yala's high concentration of leopards is what made it so popular. They have no natural predators which means they can be seen walking around the park day and night in their gorgeous coats without fear of being attacked. The 2004 tsunami that decimated all resorts along its shores and killed 250 people left Yala devastated. It was remarkable that no animals were hurt as they could see a disaster coming.
PantherapardusKotiya, an endemic giant leopard species, is the park's most prominent feature. The leopards of Sri Lanka, which are unable to hunt other predators, have evolved to be larger and more nocturnal than their African counterparts. They can be easily seen drinking in the daytime or hanging out on trees. Although the park website states that there are 40 leopards within the park, rangers will only talk about 60 to 70 of them. It is difficult to get accurate numbers because the animals aren't tagged or official counted. Sri Lankan leopards are considered the King of the Jungle, as they are at top of the food chain. It is easy to spot leopards. Many people I know have seen leopards at least once. You have a good chance to see at least one because they aren't as shy or scared as other animals.
Kumana, the Land of Mystery and Awe, is found in the eastern corner of the Island. It is linked to Yala and forms part of the same ecosystem. It is a longer drive than Yala due to its location and access. KumanaVillu was originally known as a bird sanctuary. Many species of birds nest in KumanaVillu's waters. In the past decade, however, the park has seen an increase in leopard sightings. Legends claim that the Kumana leopards are man-eaters, while the Lenama leopards (an area within the park) are believed to be larger and more dangerous. These two leopards are not the same as the ones you see in Yala. There have been a few man-eaters in this park, but they are much more common than elsewhere on the island. A 2019 case saw a construction worker being taken by a large male and then attacked another person who tried to recover the victim's body. In 2020, another leopard attacked and killed a Panamanian farmer while he was sleeping in his watch-hut. He died from his injuries. The leopard attacked several men who were on night patrol near their farms. The culprit was captured by authorities and released within the park, causing much controversy.
Despite these cases, leopard sightings continue to increase as the animals become more familiar with each other. Kumana has the advantage of leopard sightings. There are no large groups and privacy. This park is one of Sri Lanka's most secretive places due to its remoteness and difficulty in getting there.
Wilpattu, Sri Lanka's largest park, covers 130,000 hectare. It is also the oldest park in Sri Lanka, having been reopened several years ago after being closed due to the ongoing armed conflict. Wilpattu was the first national park to be known for its leopard population, some decades ago. Wilpattu's national park has a unique feature: it is home to large, sand-rimmed natural lakes called "Villus". The Villus is a rainwater collector that attracts wildlife, especially during droughts.
Wilpattu's main attraction is the sloth bear and leopard. You can also see barking deer in this park. Wilpattu's borders are to the north-south by two main rivers: the ModaraGamaru to the north, and the Kala Oha to the south.
Wilpattu is well-known for its wildlife, but also its historical and archaeological importance. It is believed that Prince Vijaya, an Indian prince, and his followers arrived in Wilpattu's North West corner to form the Sinhalese kingdom. This happened approximately 500 years before Christ was born. Many stories and archaeological ruins can still be found about this event and other interesting historical events that occurred within the boundaries of Wilpattu.
Wilpattu, the land of lakes is found at the North-Western tip of the island. This national park is Sri Lanka's largest and most striking contrast to Yala. Wilpattu contrasts with Yala's dry scrub forest, open lanes and plains as well as many rock outcrops. Wilpattu has darker forests dominating the landscape. There are also fewer open spaces, which often contain natural lakes called Villus. It is difficult to spot these predators due to the dense dark forests. However, it is amazing to see them when they come onto roads. These magnificent predators can be seen in the open, sandy-brimmed lakes. The park was closed many years ago during civil war.
It was finally opened to the public in 2010 The leopards were shy during this period and sightings were rare. After a few years of constant visits, the leopards became more comfortable and began to offer great sightings. Wilpattu has grown to be more popular over the years, particularly with wildlife enthusiasts who want quieter and more private moments than Yala, which can often be noisy and congested. Although the chances of seeing leopards in Wilpattu are less likely than Yala, they are still possible to see them. This is due to the smaller park's size and ability to spread across the entire park. The famous "Prince", also known as "Natta," was a young male leopard that was born in the KompanchiSampuwal/Pomparippu region and then moved to other parts of the park.
He was once the most photographed leopard of Sri Lanka. He gave shows like none other and often slept in the middle the road, paying no attention to vehicles or people. His tail was likely to have been injured by a wild boar, or another leopard. He was given the name Natta. Although he is still living, he has been driven to the edges of the park by larger and stronger males. The NelumWila Male is one of the most well-known and beloved males in the park. He is a huge individual with a large home area and can often be seen walking around the park without fear. He is the star of the park, and he poses for photographs. The female leopard is "Cleopatra", a beautiful female known for being a playful Borupanwila cub. Lucky visitors can see her and her brood of cubs in the Mahapatessa region.
The Horton plains, once the vast Maya Rata or Maya Kingdom, are now all that remains. This land was filled with dense forests and misty highlands. It is also respected and protected as an important region because it is the headwaters for three major rivers in Sri Lanka, the Mahaweli and Kelani. These once-sacred and protected lands were eventually cleared to plant coffee and tea after the British colonized the island. The "cloud forests", once pure and unspoiled, were now covered with green tea fields. The remaining wildlife, including elephants, leopards and bears, either disappeared or was moved to the lower reaches.
It is not easy to imagine a leopard encountering the misty highlands in Sri Lanka. However, historical records show that the highlands were the place where the majority of the island forests were once covered. This is also where the majority of wildlife animals used to roam. These forests were cleared by the British to plant Coffee and Tea.
Horton Plains National Park is one of the few highland wilderness areas left. This montane wilderness, located at 2500m above sea level, is one of Mother Nature's most impressive wonders.It was once used by the government to grow potatoes. Later, it was declared a National Park.This land is one the most ecologically important and sensitive in the country. It hosts a large number of endemic species and animals that are not found anywhere else in the world.It was well-known for its beautiful landscapes and hiking trails. The park was increasingly valued as a top destination for birding to view rare highland species.Through patience and countless visits, these encounters have been unforgettable.
These predators, the kings of the domain, can be found in dense cloud forests or on the edges of open plains that are the main landscapes of the habitat.These cats eat mainly Sambhur, the largest deer species in Sri Lanka. They seem to have some physiological differences from their lowland counterparts. Horton Plains Leopards appear to have a larger physical size, wider faces and shorter muzzle areas than their lowland cousins. This gives them a wider and more attractive appearance.
In 2020, DrEnokaKudavidanage and a scientific team conducted a study that identified 23 adult leopards in the park.It is more difficult to see these magnificent predators in the highlands than it is in the lowlands. But if you have patience and a trained eye, you may be able to catch a glimpse of their majestic beauty.
Kumana, the Land of Mystery and Awe, is found in the eastern corner of the Island. It is linked to Yala and forms part of the same ecosystem. It is a longer drive than Yala due to its location and access. KumanaVillu was originally known as a bird sanctuary. Many species of birds nest in KumanaVillu's waters.
In the past decade, however, the park has seen an increase in leopard sightings. Legends claim that the Kumana leopards are man-eaters, while the Lenama leopards (an area within the park) are believed to be larger and more dangerous. These two leopards are not the same as the ones you see in Yala. There have been a few man-eaters in this park, but they are much more common than elsewhere on the island. A 2019 case saw a construction worker being taken by a large male and then attacked another person who tried to recover the victim's body. In 2020, another leopard attacked and killed a Panamanian farmer while he was sleeping in his watch-hut. He died from his injuries. The leopard attacked several men who were on night patrol near their farms. The culprit was captured by authorities and released within the park, causing much controversy.
Despite these cases, leopard sightings continue to increase as the animals become more familiar with each other. Kumana has the advantage of leopard sightings. There are no large groups and privacy. This park is one of Sri Lanka's most secretive places due to its remoteness and difficulty in getting there.
Safe Travels