Black leopards in Yala
Childers JAYAWARDHANE
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Daily News

Many years ago black leopards were seen in the Yala jungles and it is quite possible that the progeny of the melanin gene animal is still found in the Yala group of reserves.

In 1951, I was a trainee Game Ranger at Yala. K.G. Uparis, one of the Game Guards, who many and old timer and jungle enthusiast to Yala knows, related to me of him seeing a black leopard near Banawalkema in the Yala North Intermediate Zone, (YNIZ) (Present Yala National Park block III, then, a shooting block).

In 1948, Uparis was assigned to supervise the clearing of the boundary track from Rugamtota to Kalugaltota, separating, the Yala Strict Natural Reserve (SNR) from YNIZ. He and the contractor had pitched camp at Banawaltota.

On morning Uparis loaded a buck shot cartridge to his shot gun and walked a short distance along the cleared track from camp to shoot some jungle fowl, when he came upon a black leopard, behind a bush intently looking in the direction of a herd of spotted deer grazing in a small glade.

He was surprised to see such a specimen and stopped in his stride. Somehow this attracted the animals attention, who looked at Uparis, stared and snarled at him, looked again at the deer and began belly crawling, towards the herd.

Uparis being alone and unwilling to confront or disturb a hungry leopard, with buck shot, made way backwards slowly and got away from its presence.

This region is in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka. Here the vegetation is of a high closed canopy with a few open glades, ridges and outcrops with rock pools.

Many years later (almost 30 years) when I was in charge of the entire Yala Group of National Reserves, I had the opportunity of travelling many a time through this same region, where the black leopard was seen and approximately four miles away from Banawalkema at Godawalipokuna (Mahawewa) in the linch to one map (topographic map). I was fortunate to see a black leopard crossing the jeep track ahead of the vehicle and move away into the forest.

Tracking the Lankan Leopard
By Andrew Kittle

In the past few weeks I have been reminded of the nation’s fascination with the leopard. This is no surprise given that it is stunningly beautiful, the island’s top predator and only big cat.

Together with my wife I have been studying the species here since 2001, but close proximity to a subject can bring with it a lack of perspective and it has taken the immense interest garnered by the recent sad death of a black leopard near Sinharaja to shake me from my lassitude regarding remembering the importance that people attach to this magnificent carnivore while also recognizing the widespread misinformation that exists regarding its ecology and behaviour. Incorrect information is potentially more damaging to the future conservation of the species than a lack of information and as such I wish to offer some opinions, clarifications and ideas.

Having addressed a number of issues related to the genetic status of the species in a couple of published responses to the commotion surrounding the black leopard (The Sunday Times 08/03/09 and Daily Mirror 10/03/09) I will not re-trace those steps. However it is worth re-iterating the basic context within which the leopard exists, generally and here in Sri Lanka.

Young male leopard on top of Kotigala rock in Yala, Block I. Sub-adult and young adult male leopards are the most visible sex and age classes.

Leopards are the most geographically widespread large felid, existing throughout sub-Saharan Africa; in pockets in Iran, Israel, the Saudi peninsula and the Caucasus; through Pakistan, India and China; in far-eastern Russia; and throughout tropical south Asia. Sub-Saharan African leopards are considered “of least concern” from a conservation perspective but Asiatic populations are all considered “endangered” and listed under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species’ (CITES) Appendix I, barring all trade in the animals and their parts. Paradoxically, the Sri Lankan IUCN has listed the local leopard as “vulnerable” (one category better off than “endangered”) in their latest Red Listing (2007).

Extremely adaptable, solitary carnivores, leopards can subsist on a wide range of prey and live in close proximity to humans. They are presently distributed throughout Sri Lanka with the exception of portions of the densely populated southwestern wet zone and thin coastal strips along the East, their range encompassing a variety of habitats including montane forest, tropical rainforest, dry evergreen forest and arid zone scrub. Leopards exist even outside protected areas using plantation lands, riverine forests and “empty” or scrub land to move through and occasionally reside within. Despite this wide distribution, the Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya), one of eight distinct genetic sub-species (Miththapala et al. 1996), is under increasing threat from habitat destruction, forest fragmentation, trapping and hunting. The black leopard recently found ensnared near Deniyaya, the young female shot near the Yala main gate three weeks ago and the animal shot in Lunugamvehara the following week exemplifies this type of threat, one that is clearly all too common.

Sri Lanka is home to the only leopard population known to have evolved as the top predatory carnivore in its ecosystem, having been isolated from competition with other large carnivores at least since Sri Lanka split off from the Indian sub-continent --5,000-10,000 years ago. Evidence indicates that the Sri Lankan lion (Panthera leo sinhaleyus Deraniyagala, 1939) became extinct in the region ca. 37,000 years ago and the most recent tiger fossil evidence is dated to 16,500 years ago. As the lone top carnivore in the system, the Sri Lankan leopard could have some behavioural and/or ecological traits different to other populations undergoing competition with dominant carnivores (ie. tigers, lions, hyena clans and dhole packs).

Our two-year study in Yala National Park indicates that the Block I population lives at a relatively high density, exhibits fairly small home ranges, are more active at night than in the day and are seen in social groups more often than other populations – typically mothers with cubs and courting pairs. The high density and small home ranges, while consistent with expectations given a lack of dominant competitors, appears influenced more by high prey availability whereas primarily nocturnal activity is typical of leopards, with diurnal populations (active during the daytime mainly) only occurring where their preferred prey is also diurnal (e.g. South Africa’s Drakensburg Mountains).

A troubling statistic that I have repeatedly seen is that Yala Block I (140 km²) has a leopard density of 1/km². This would mean 140 leopards in the Block, an absurd notion to anyone who regularly visits the park and especially so given that the highest recorded density estimates in the world are 0.23/km², from Zimbabwe (Smith 1977) and South Africa (LeRoux and Skinner 1989). The troubling aspect is not just that it is quite clearly incorrect, but that it has been unquestioningly embraced and repeated by many who, upon reflection should know better but seem to be blinded by the desire to unnecessarily overhype the leopard in Sri Lanka.

Promoting this incorrect density estimate indicates that visitors are practically tripping over leopards in Yala (which clearly they are not) and provides a completely inflated impression of their numbers and thus their conservation status. It is this latter aspect that has potentially damaging repercussions as it can lead to a false sense of security regarding conservation management of the species. Yala Block I does have a relatively high leopard population density. Using internationally utilized standard methods we estimate the density at 0.18/km² or ~25 adult animals in Block I, one of the highest recorded densities in the world. This is remarkably similar to previous, independent estimates from Yala (Santiapillai et al. 1982). When including cubs, sub-adults and transient animals (those that are simply moving through the landscape and are not resident) - which are not typically included in density estimates - the total number in the Block is 40 -50, still a far cry from 140. When analyzed in comparison to 21 other international studies, this density (0.18/km²) falls neatly onto the curve of density estimates as determined by available prey biomass (the amount of consumable prey measured in kg/km²), again situating the Sri Lankan leopard well within the context of “typical” leopard populations.

What makes the Yala leopard population unusual is not its density, but its visibility. This is probably due to a combination of factors including a healthy population with an abundance of young animals (it is this age group that tends to most often be seen, especially young males); a lack of dominant competition which has led to a reduced need for secrecy; and habituation resulting from many years of park visitation.

Our present work, in the central hills, is focused on determining leopard distribution in this highly fragmented, human impacted region and investigating movement between often-isolated forest patches. So far we have documented leopard populations residing in close proximity to established urban centres as well as rapidly occupying re-forested estate lands. In Hantane, near Kandy, where leopards occasionally prey on dogs, we have been relieved to discover that this behaviour is uncommon. The relief is because when carnivores start preying heavily on livestock and/or domestic animals it indicates that their usual prey is in short supply, which is often the first step towards an increase in human-wildlife conflict. Instead the Hantane leopards – based on ongoing results - are preying extensively on porcupine and barking deer.

There are many unanswered questions about the leopard in Sri Lanka and more work to be done before we have a sound appreciation of its status, ecology and behaviour. Our work and that of others is helping to chip away at this rock of ignorance. Thankfully Sri Lanka is both replete with wildlife enthusiasts passionate about the leopard and the wild places in which they roam and infused with a natural conservation ethic, so hopefully there is a positive future for the conservation of this magnificent animal. However I want to stress the importance of ensuring that information is as accurate as possible before promoting that information. The tale of tiger conservation in India is a valid example of how incorrect information can negatively affect conservation efforts. Due to a poorly managed data collection system relying on too many people with not enough knowledge and a woeful lack of standardization, for years the tiger population estimates in India were over-exaggerated.

The ever-increasing tiger numbers that were quoted naturally led those involved in tiger conservation to relax, which led in turn to a diminished effort to protect individual reserve boundaries and attend to some of the most pressing threats including a thriving trade in poached skins and bones.

Upon recent realization that numbers had long been overestimated it was too late for several reserves where tigers had already been extirpated; this has caused panic in the conservation community. While the situation for leopards in Sri Lanka is not nearly so dire, the lesson can still be appreciated and hopefully learned, to ensure that we never venture down that same road.

Pens to protect
By Malaka Rodrigo

Yala leopards roaming outside the boundaries of the wildlife park find cattle grazing around the Yala buffer zone irresistible prey. This has made the leopard the number one enemy of the herders and it is not easy to convince a herder who just lost a calf to a leopard that the leopard shouldn't be shot or poisoned.

Such retaliatory attacks have seen a number of leopards being killed annually. Recognizing this threat, a group of wildlife enthusiasts - the late Dr. Ravi Samarasinghe, Shirom Kulatunge and Darrel Bartholomeusz started a pilot project in 2006 to provide a leopard-proof pen to herders so that they could keep their young calves safe at night when the nocturnal leopard usually attacks.
Dr. Samarasinghe, a pioneer in leopard conservation estimated that around 10 leopards are killed in the buffer zones – outside the Yala national park. After much discussion and research with herders in the areas, project Pug Marks got off the ground.

“I had lost a number of cattle, but after I got the pen, my cattle are safe,” said Wasantha Jayasinghe, a cattle herder. Wasantha said that they have seen leopards near the new pen and also signs that the predator climbed on it but the cattle were safe inside.

The pen -10ft wide, 20ft long and 5 ft tall is made with galvanised iron pipes and chain link fencing, covering the top and sides. It can also be easily dismantled and reassembled, giving the nomadic herders the freedom to move to new pastures.

Wasantha said individual herds are attacked once or twice a year, but that the leopard kills more than it can eat. On one occasion a leopard had carried away a young calf, after killing five of his cattle on an earlier occasion. Angry herders often poison the half-eaten carcass knowing that the leopard usually returns to its kill. The number of leopards that have died in this way may be more than what is recorded, as the bodies may never be found sometimes.

Seven such pens have been distributed so far. An association was formed at community level to select who should receive them depending on the area where such attacks are frequent. The raw material costing about Rs. 30,000 is given to the Herders’ Association and the cage constructed at their cost, getting the community involved in providing the solution.

The representative on site liaises with the herders. He is provided a bike and mobile phone for this purpose. If a leopard is seen in the vicinity, the cattle herders notify him so that a cage may be provided for the protection of their cattle.

Co-ordinator D.K. Susantha, often visits the cattle herders who have the pens to ensure the success of the project. He said the attitude change of not seeing the leopard as an enemy is one of the key accomplishments of project ‘Pug Marks’. He recalls how a herder was arrested with two leopard skins in his possession in 2000. The skins were not well prepared, indicating that the killing was not for skin, but that the herder was angered to see his cattle killed and with the whole system after getting punished. This herder was also given a leopard-proof pen and is now helping the authorities.

With over 60 cattle herders in the area, there is a need for more pens and the project Pug Marks people welcomes any donations.
More information about Pug Marks could be had from Darrel on 0777672503 or by emailing projectpugmark@gmail.com

Leopard shooting raises questions
Six-foot carcass of animal found in culvert close to main entrance of Yala National Park
By Malaka Rodrigo

A spate of leopard deaths, the most recent being a shooting reported from the vicinity of the Yala National Park has raised serious concern among wildlife enthusiasts.

The still-warm carcass of a six foot female leopard was spotted in a culvert near the main entrance of the park by an army foot patrol unit around 9 a.m. on April 19. A single T56 shot had entered the shoulder of the animal and come out from its head.

The nature of the gunshot wound indicated that the leopard was on a tree at the time of the shooting, leopard experts say. The proximity of the shooting to the park has raised questions as to how poachers could have carried out the act without being spotted by the authorities.

A probe by the Department of Wildlife Conservation into the shooting revealed that the animal may have been killed further inside the park before being dumped in the culvert close to the park entrance. However, since the carcass was still warm when discovered, the shooting could not have occurred more than a kilometre away from the culvert, wildlife authorities say.

Ananda Wijesooriya, Director General of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) told The Sunday Times that a special team was sent from the department to conduct a probe even after a post mortem was carried out since the shooting had taken place close to the Yala wildlife office.

He said the probe revealed that an automatic weapon had been used in the shooting, adding that it was difficult to track down the culprits as the area had many units including police, army and home guards providing security, following LTTE attacks in the park.
He said the DWC had handed over a report on the findings to the officer in-charge of the Yala area and was awaiting ministry approval to conduct further investigations. The park warden was interdicted last week following the incident.

Rare black leopard a new species? 
By Yohan Perera and Ajithlal Shanthaudaya

Environmentalists yesterday said the discovery of a carcass of a rare black leopard in Deniyaya on Thursday may turn out to be a new species, but stressed a proper conclusion could be made only after full investigations.

Well known Environmentalist Jagath Gunawardene told the Daily Mirror that the melanin form of the carcass would make it a new species. “The bright black colour is something unusual and makes it different,” Mr. Gunawardene said.

Mr. Gunawardene said this was the third time that such carcasses had been found during in recent times. One was found at Weerapana in the Galle District and the other one in Ratnapura.

The birth of a black leopard was also recorded at the Dehiwala Zoological Gardens in 1983.

Wildlife officials said the rare black leopard was found in a village bordering the Sinharaja forest on Thursday. They said the black wildcat similar to a leopard had been caught in a trap laid by a villager at Kolawenigama in Deniyaya.

The carcass is three feet and seven inches long with the tail extending to a further two feet four inches.

Wildlife officials said the skin appeared black from a distance but on closer inspection black spots could be discerned like that of a normal leopard.

Uda Walawa’s Ath Aturu Sevana veterinary officer Dr. Methmi Kumuduni said the age of the animal could not be established as it was the first time such an animal had been discovered.

She said the carcass displayed all the features of the Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera Pardus Kotiya) and the discovery of a similar carcass was reported from another village bordering the Sinharaja forest in Kalawana several years ago.

But in that instance the carcass could not be identified as it was in a highly decomposed state.

Dr. Kumuduni said that there were reports of occasional sightings of similar animals from the Horton Plains and the Sri Pada forest reserves but nothing had been specifically recorded.

She said further examination on the carcass were being conducted to find out whether the animal was a result of a gene mutation of the Sri Lankan Leopard or was a sub species of the variety. Wild Life authorities said a DNA test would also be carried out.

Leopard meets its death
by R. L. Gurugamage- Dodanduwa

Animal lovers are immensely perturbed about the shoot­ing down of a leopard that infiltrated into the village of Kolegala in Ratnapura on January 27th morning.

It is a well grown sturdy animal in full stature. It may be that this animal haphaz-ardously crashed into this habitable village whilst roaming in the jungle.

The question is as to whether there was no other means of controlling or incarcerating this animal and save its life.

At a time when rare species of animals are facing extinction this type of animal destruction has to be viewed with regret.

A method of temporarily controlling this ani­mal was to have shot it with a tranquilliser gun and thereafter immediately tether it with a nylon rope until the Wildlife Depart­ment officials appear on the scene.

The animal could thereafter be transported to the Dehiwala zoo or release it to a jungle congenial to it. The leopard is a protected animal and is the fauna wealth of this coun­try.

The reason for the shooting is attributed as for the security of the life of the community. In such instances all possibilities to safe­guard the lives of rare animals have to be probed into before shooting as an inevitable step.

Hence I suggest that the Wildlife Depart­ment formulate some procedure in this regard to familiarise the law enforcing per­sonnel stationed in borders of jungle areas to use tranquilliser guns and temporarily arrest such harmful and dangerous animals before shooting them down as a final resort.