Don’t let these sights disappear from our parks
View(s):The photographs are stunning – one of Sri Lanka’s iconic mammals, the leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya), in all its majesty in the pristine Wilpattu National Park.
This is the National Park, like many others scattered across the country, which is under threat……..and not only for mammals such as the leopard, the top predator, but numerous other creatures, big and small. Such threats would mean loss of precious habitat.
The burning question being asked by environmentalists is whether this generation of Sri Lankans would hand down to posterity a land devoid of such biodiversity, in the face of encroachments, land-grabs and illegal construction of thoroughfares which are whittling down whatever Protected Areas are left.
There is also poaching with impunity in those areas, while alleged moves are underway to dump garbage on Wilpattu’s boundary.
Will ‘sights’ such as these be only available on photographs? They may well be if Sri Lanka does not take urgent action not only to safeguard the Wilpattu National Park but also other Protected Areas which are home to numerous species of fauna and flora.
Wildlife enthusiast Kithsiri Gunawardena, has been studying the flora and fauna of the Wilpattu National Park in the past three years. Kithsiri is also the Joint Secretary of the Ceylon Bird Club as well as the Joint Editor of its monthly journal, the Ceylon Bird Club Notes.
Kithsiri’s ‘passion’ has been leopards, each and every one of whom he has been able to identify individually based on their spot-and-rosette patterns, unique to individuals. He records the sightings and the GPS readings of their locations and so far has identified 37 leopards at Wilpattu.
Field notes on leopard sightings:
September 19, 2015:
9.35 a.m — Three Leopards between Maradanmaduwa and Thambi Oluwa. N 08.38010 E 080.06572. Two were on a fallen tree trunk and one moved down as we arrived. The third was on the ground with only its tail visible through the bushes.
The two on the tree trunk were cubs of about 9 to 10 months and appeared to be a male and a female. This is my first sighting of these leopards and I named them Maradanmaduwa Male 1 (MMMC 1) and Maradanmaduwa Female 2 (MMFC 2).
11.40 a.m. — One Leopard, MMMC 1 on the same tree trunk between Thambi Oluwa and Maradanmaduwa.
1.46 p.m. — Two Leopards, Maradanmaduwa Male 1 (MMMC 1) and Maradanmaduwa Female 2 (MMFC 2) on the same fallen tree trunk. I observed them for approximately 2 hours till 3.50 p.m. The third leopard was not visible.
4.55 p.m. — Three Leopards on the fallen tree trunk between Thambi Oluwa and Maradanmaduwa.
I was informed by a jeep driver at Kumbuk Wila that with the increase in safari jeeps some visitors had disturbed the leopards which had moved into the forest.
As these were cubs, I expected them to remain in the same locality and with the jeeps leaving for them to be back on the tree trunk again.
Having arrived at the location, I was thrilled to observe three leopards on the fallen tree trunk. While two of the cubs could be seen well, the third leopard was covered by foliage.
While I was photographing the two cubs the third leopard moved towards the cubs and started to lick them demonstrating maternal behaviour.
This activity lasted for about six minutes and permitted me to capture some images of the three leopards together. Later upon examining the spot-and-rosette pattern of the third leopard, I realized that it is the Maradanmaduwa Female 1 (MMFC 1) that I had last observed at Maradanmaduwa in December 2013.
As female leopards are known to produce their first litter when they are around 2½ years, I’m certain that these two cubs should be her first litter.
With the arrival of other jeeps I moved my vehicle to allow those parked behind me to also view this fascinating sight.
For more details on Kithsiri’s ongoing study, please visit www.wilpattu.com