Panthera pardus kotiya
Sri Lankan Leopard
An island subspecies, top of its food chain, and the reason most people come to Yala.
- Endemic subspecies
- Yala Block 1
- First and last light
- February to July
Sri Lanka's leopard is its own subspecies, Panthera pardus kotiya. With no tigers or lions on the island it sits at the top of the food chain, which is why it behaves differently here: bolder in daylight, comfortable on open rock, and far less nocturnal than leopards elsewhere.
Block 1 of Yala holds the densest leopard population on the island. Our drivers know the resident territories and work a radio network that tracks movement across the block through the morning.
We will never guarantee a leopard. What we can do is put you in the right place early, stay quiet, and be willing to wait — which is what a longer drive buys you.
Where to look
Rock outcrops, the shade under palu trees, and the edges of waterholes on the Block 1 loop.
How often it is seen
Frequently seen, never promised
Also in the park