Wild Sri Lanka - Realm of The Leopard

Leopards, jackals and crocodiles are the apex predators, but the country also boasts some of the rarest creatures on Earth, including the Sloth Bear and the Grey Loris.

The southwest of the country is dominated by rich tracts of rainforest. Its canopy provides sanctuary to a wide variety of birdlife, including the magnificent Crested Serpent eagle and many species of owl endemic to the island. Thanks to the southwest monsoon, rains keep the forest lush throughout the year and there is little human encroachment.

But most of Sri Lanka consists of lowland plains situated in the Dry Zone of the country. This terrain is home to Golden jackals and other cat species who often travel and hunt together, attracted to the smaller prey which abound here, such as spotted deer and wild boar. Crocodiles stalk the waterways, but they have big competition. The apex predator in this dusty scrubland is the Sri Lankan leopard.

As in neighbouring India, deforestation has diminished the leopard’s territory and there are believed to be only between 750 and 1000 left in the wild. These formidable predators are the largest leopards in the world due to the absence of tigers and the relative abundance of prey species. We follow the leopards’ daily routine showing the numerous challenges it encounters as the dry season begins.