Camouflaged by their coats of spots; hidden in between bushes, up in trees, and on large rocks are the majestic cats of Sri Lanka. They are the largest predators in the island, and won’t let you forget it. Sri Lankan leopards are even classified as endangered by the IUCN; reminding us that we should cherish these animals and protect them while they are here.
Anything you should know
Leopard are usually in areas with dense forests, be it the wet zone or the dry zone. You are most likely to see them in a National Park. The parks are usually open at around 6 am, and close by 6 pm. This is for the safety of the animals; to ensure that they aren’t constantly being bombarded by vehicles.
If you are going to one of these parks, it is suggested that you don’t go in a car; a jeep is much better. There are safari jeeps that you can hire that will drive you around the area. In these parks, it’s a must that you take a tracker along with you. They know the jungle and its occupants like the back of their hand. Ask them questions about the wildlife around you, and they will be more than happy to answer.
While there are hotels bordering the outskirts of the jungle, there are also bungalows situated within the park; allowing you to really get that one on one rustic experience of nature. Each bungalow has a keeper and a cook, so you’ll have to bring along your meal plan and food, and they will prepare it for you. There will be a lack of electricity and signal, but it is one of the best ways to let loose and take a break from the outside world. If you want to go one step further; you could even camp at some of these sites.
Where to go
The Yala National Park is in the Southeastern part of the country, and is known for its sightings of leopards. In fact; it has the highest population density of leopards in the world, and the leopards here are known to larger than usual due to their lack of competition. Besides that, there also other fascinating animals here worth seeing; like the sloth bear, and elephants; including tuskers. The park is divided in to 5 blocks, 2 of which are open to the public; leaving plenty of room for the animals to live freely.
The Wilpattu is situated in the Northwestern part of the island, and is the largest National Park in the island. The area is also unique for having natural lakes that have been formed by depressions being filled with rain water. Once again in the forests here you can find many different animals like sloth bears, jackals, elephants, and tons of birds; including many migratory ones. The best time to visit Wilpattu would be from February to October.
Besides these places, leopards can also be spotted in the Udawalawe National Park, Wasgamuwa, and even Horton plains, but the sightings here are a lot rarer. This is because the leopards tend to move in to the forest when confronted with vehicles.
These National parks make up for the concrete jungles that reign over the urban areas of the island. They are the perfect places to observe wild animals, especially the largest cats in the island- leopards. At the end of the day, while it is the lions that deck the flags and emblems all over Sri Lanka, the leopards are our real pride and joy.
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