Kumana National Park Emerges as a Vital Stronghold for Sri Lankan Leopards – By Malsha – eLanka
Kumana, Sri Lanka — Long celebrated for its rich birdlife and vast wetlands, Kumana National Park on Sri Lanka’s southeastern coast is now gaining attention as a vital sanctuary for the Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya). A groundbreaking study conducted by the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ) and the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) has revealed a remarkably high density of leopards in the park, positioning Kumana among the world’s top leopard habitats.
Using camera traps and the Random Encounter Model (REM)—a scientific method for estimating wildlife density—the researchers recorded over 90 leopard encounters during a 16-month period. They identified 34 individual leopards in the eastern region of the park, estimating a density of 41 leopards per 100 square kilometers (38.6 square miles). Lead researcher Dulan Jayasekara noted that this is the first time REM has been used to assess leopard density in Sri Lanka, yielding critical insights despite limited resources.
Since 2017, a parallel citizen science initiative has identified 80 individual leopards within the park. The project, known as Kumana Leopards, uses a naming system and visual identification tips posted at the park entrance to help visitors recognize individual leopards. Spearheaded by wildlife enthusiast Shanaka Kalubowila, the initiative documents leopard movements, maintains a public sightings database, and provides educational resources including a field guide and family lineage data.
Kumana, which spans more than 35,000 hectares (86,487 acres), is characterized by dry-zone scrublands, monsoon forests, lagoons, mangroves, rocky outcrops, and unique seasonal wetlands known as villus. First declared a bird sanctuary in 1938, it became a national park in 1970 and a Ramsar wetland site in 2010. Though it was largely inaccessible during Sri Lanka’s civil war, the park reopened in 2006 and has since grown in popularity, especially among wildlife enthusiasts seeking leopard sightings.
The Sri Lankan leopard, listed as “vulnerable” by the IUCN Red List, faces an estimated national population of around 1,000 individuals. While Yala National Park in the south remains the most famous location for leopard encounters—with a recorded density of 0.5461 leopards per km²—Kumana is increasingly viewed as a sustainable alternative. This shift could relieve some of the tourism pressure on Yala, which has drawn concern over overcrowding and its impact on wildlife.
Other national parks have shown varying leopard densities: Wilpattu in the northwest reported 18 leopards per 100 km², while Horton Plains had 11.7 leopards per 100 km². However, as conservationist Anjali Watson of the Wilderness and Wildlife Conservation Trust (WWCT) points out, accurate density estimates require careful timing and methodology to account for migration, residency, and other population dynamics.
Despite its promise, Kumana’s leopard population faces growing threats. Leopards that roam beyond park boundaries risk conflict with local communities, especially buffalo herders whose calves are sometimes preyed upon. In retaliation, some herders resort to poisoning, resulting in multiple leopard deaths. Additionally, pilgrims on the traditional Pādā Yāthrā—a foot pilgrimage from Jaffna to Kataragama—occasionally encounter leopards, leading to rare but dangerous human-wildlife conflicts.
Local folklore adds a mythical dimension to Kumana’s leopards. In Lenama, a region within the park, tales speak of massive leopards sent by the deity Kataragama to punish the Veddas for sacrilegious rituals. Modern studies support that these big cats are most active around rocky terrain and water bodies, where prey like spotted deer and wild buffalo are plentiful.
With its rising profile as a prime leopard habitat, Kumana National Park not only enriches Sri Lanka’s biodiversity portfolio but also offers new opportunities for conservation tourism and education. If carefully managed, it could become a cornerstone of sustainable wildlife tourism, balancing ecological preservation with visitor engagement.
