Leopards masters of all they survey at Wilpattu; let’s keep it that way

The Wilpattu National Park is a “major and important source” of leopards to the surrounding areas, Dinal and his team found to their delight, counting around 133 leopards – 116 “independents” and 17 “dependents”.

The density of leopards at Wilpattu was in the “upper range” when compared to populations around the world. Except in some areas in India, Java in Indonesia and some fenced areas of Africa, the populations are showing a downward trend.

Dinal says that with the Wilpattu National Park leopards being the masters of all they survey even in Protected Areas on its immediate boundaries such as Wilpattu North Sanctuary and Mavillu Conservation Forest to the north and Weerakkodicholai Forest Reserve, Tabbowa

Sanctuary and Ipalogama Forest Reserve to the south, “we need to take a close look at the dangers confronting them”. These dangers include: Poaching of the prey of leopards [sambhur, spotted deer and mouse deer ( meminna)] seriously affects the predator-prey balance. Treasure-hunters and honeycollectors could disrupt the balance within the National Park and other Protected Areas around Wilpattu. Traffic on the main road cutting across this National Park, any expansion of the tiny fishing hamlets within the park and expansion or activity at the shrine within the park are potent dangers which could impact drastically on the leopard population.

Dinal stresses that for a leopard population to thrive, there should also be good prey density along with an excellent habitat which is not fragmented. Leopards need to have a choice, otherwise they would have to be content with not- so-tasty morsels and then they would be compelled to make inroads into human habitat.

Commending the concerted efforts of the Department of Wildlife Conservation team at this National Park to prevent poaching, he explains that when there is tourism, there is a natural curb on poaching.

Meanwhile, Dinal appeals to local holiday- goers to refrain from seeking the meat of wild animals such as deer and boar which, in turn, will pre-empt the hunting of such animals.