Nelum Wila big male Leopard. Wilpattu National Park. Sri Lanka 2023

He is a leopard in his prime and the dominant male in the main villu (water bodies) area of the Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka. He was born to a litter of three in the Nelum Wila area and is about 6 years and 7months in age. The Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) is a leopard subspecies native to Sri Lanka. Since 2020, the Sri Lankan leopard has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, as the population is estimated at less than 800 mature individuals, and is probably declining. The Sri Lankan leopard has possibly evolved to become a rather large leopard subspecies, because it is the apex predator in the country. Large males have been suggested to reach almost 100 kg, but evidence for this is lacking.