Leopards, Yala, and Sri Lanka are the most frequent searches among travel enthusiasts around the world. Yala, the most visited wildness in Sri Lanka has recorded more than 100 leopards according to recent studies. Among them about 50-60 leopards are sauntering in the block – I of Yala National Park. Yala is one of the few places in the world where leopards are seen during daylight hours.

Sri Lankan wild cats

The Sri Lankan Leopards (Panthera pardus kotiya) is the largest of the four Sri Lankan wild cat species of Jungle Cat (Felis chaus), Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), and the Rusty-spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginous).

Although the leopards are elusive predators in the other countries in Africa, Eurasia, and the Indian Sub-continent they are the top predator in Sri Lanka. You can see the leopards are strolling proudly along the gravel roads in Yala because they knew that they don’t have any big cat to compete with him.

Food pyramid

Leopards are at the apex of the food pyramid. Their preferred preys upon deer, wild boar, young buffalo, sambhar, hare, and gray langur. They like to hunt under the darkness using their powerful night vision and incredible hearing.

Jaguar like Leopards

The muscular powerful Sri Lankan Leopard with large jaws and nearing 100 Kg in weight looked more like a Jaguar when it suddenly appeared from behind the bush.

Leopards habitat

During the breeding time, leopards are pair off. The dry months of June to September and February and March are the favourable months for breeding the leopards in Yala. Normally two cabs are favoured but rarely three cabs can be seen. The cubs are weaned before brought to the open.

Researchers can identify individual leopards by their spot patterns all over the body and face and match them against juveniles seen and photographed inside the park.

Sighting Leopards

Sighting of a leopard is one of the great thrills during the visit to Yala. If you are a leopard lover or you have enough time to spend additionally, take the time to just sit and observe leopard behaviour rather than just taking photographs and moving away. Definitely, you will be able to witness unique insights of leopard life in Yala.