Wildlife enthusiasts from all over the world visit the Wilpattu National Park to witness the glorious creatures that are the Sri Lankan Big Three: The Giant Leopard, The Sloth Bear and last but not least, the Asian Elephants. Celebrities in their own right, these three take center stage every time!
So, learn more about your favorite superstars before you meet them. It is important that you familiarize yourself with their behavioral patterns and lifestyle as you would be visiting them in their natural habitat.
The Sri Lankan Leopard:
Known as the ‘Lord of the Jungle’, the Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera parades kotiya) is indigenous to Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Leopard, the smallest of the ‘Big cats’ is still the only large mammal predator in the country and is larger than its African relatives. It is rusty yellow colored and has dark spots and lithe elongated bodies. It is stocky in build, with a shoulder height of about 45 to 80 centimeters with males weighing around 56 kg and females around 29 kg and lives up to 20 years. These graceful and agile animals are predatory carnivores, making them excellent hunters who pursue different prey such as small mammals, birds, reptiles, wild boar, sambur and barking-deer. They hunt mainly during the nights and are best observed during dawn and dusk and sometimes during the daytime as well.
Watching leopards in the wild is considered an art that requires lots of patience so as to win the trust of the animal. Humans are their only predators, so know that they are more scared of you than you are of them. The best period for leopard watching is between May – August.
The Sri Lankan Sloth Bear:
The Bear found in Sri Lanka (Melursus ursinus inornatus) is a subspecies of the Sloth Bear and is endemic to the country. The Sri Lankan Sloth Bear is stocky in build covered with long black shaggy fur and long hair around its neck; the adult male weighs about 140kg and is typically about 3 ft high at the shoulders and about six ft long, while the female weighing about 95kg is slightly smaller in size and stature. These cute creatures are omnivores, and are agile climbers, and can usually be spotted on tree branches. They’re solitary animals, but it would be a sight to behold if you could catch a momma bear with her cubs. Despite their deceivingly adorable appearance, they are highly dangerous and will attack if their peace is disturbed.
The Asian Elephant:
Fondly called the “Gentle Giants”, the Sri Lankan Elephant (Elephas maximus maximus) is a distinct subspecies of the Asian Elephant and is indigenous to the island. It’s smaller than the African Elephant yet it is the largest of the three Asian subspecies. It is around 2-3.5m at shoulder height and weighs between 2000 and 5500 kg, with a darker skin tone and greater depigmentation patches. They live up to 50 – 70 years and lead a peaceful herbivore lifestyle. Elephants are known to be very intelligent, have extremely good memories that span over years helping them recognize people they have been associated with and places they have been to before. So, be cautious of getting on their bad side!
