Leopard on Yala/Ruhuna NP. In Early Morning Light

The Samber Deer Killed by the Leopard (arrow)

17th Sept. Ella

Nalin, the driver was waiting for us alongside the clapped out landrover at 5am yesterday morning. The Yala/Ruhuna National Park opened at 6am. As the early morning and late afternoon is the best times to see the wildlife we knew we would have to be at the gate right on opening. Nalin had asked us what we wanted to see in the park 'Leopard and sloth bear if at all possible' was our answer. 'I will go immediately to leopard rock' he said as the compulsory guide climbed in beside him. He drove fast. Herds of spotted deer leapt across the road in the early morning light, a jackal was briefly seen before heading into cover. At the rock just the one vehcle had stopped, binoculars protruding from the sides like snails eyes. The rocks were less than 40 metres from the road, atop the highest, in the early morning light, lay a magnificent male. I had always imagined leopards to be one of the smaller major cats but this bloke was big. The rising sun gave his coat a golden sheen. He lay there, head up, licking himself after feasting on the freshly killed samber deer that lay at the base of the rocks in the shade. We were entranced. Leopard was the only major cat we didn't see in Africa on our trip through, this made up for it. For twenty minutes we watched. Another 4wd pulled up but by then he had changed his posture and had lost his majestic stance. A short time later he moved out of site perhaps to have a sleep before feeding once again. The vehicles arriving waited in vain on his return.
Nalin carried on to some of the water holes in the park. Being the end of the dry season many were small with the animals and birds feeding there more concentrated. At one there woud have been 12-15 crocs who would have to travel to a larger watering place in the near future. It is a large park but the driver, although young, was very experienced in finding the animals. We saw wild boar, spotted and samber deer, crocs, water buffalo, mongoose, jackals, black faced monkeys and many types of birds inclding large storks and cranes. Part of a large water hole was covered in salvinia weed which the pigs found a very easy food source. But wariness was in order as beneath the weeds, crocs lurked, hard to see apart from a sudden flurry of weed and a snout poking through. There are only 12-14 sloth bears in the park, unfortunately we didn't see any.
The ocean forms one of the boundaries in the park. During the morning we stopped for a rest near the shore. At that point was the concrete floor of a amenities block. The rest of the building had been sheared off by the tsunami taking with it 14 Japanese and German tourists as well as their local guides and drivers. They just happened to stop for their break as the tsunami hit. There is a memorial to them at that site.

Crocodiles at a Drying Water Hole

Spotted Deer Stags

Wild Boar. Have to be careful because.........