Guardians of the Wild: Protecting the Endangered Sri Lankan Leopard – Malsha – eLanka The Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) is the only large predator native to Sri Lanka, a subspecies endemic to the island with unique ecological importance. Classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, the wild population is estimated at less than 800 mature individuals, and likely declining Leopards play a keystone role in regulating prey populations and maintaining habitat health across varied landscapes—from dry scrublands and forests to tea estates and home gardens in the central highlands Major Threats Facing the Species Habitat fragmentation: Expansion of agriculture, especially tea plantations, has severed forest continuity across Highlands and other regions. Human–leopard conflict and poaching: Leopards are frequently victims of retaliatory killing by buffalo herders or caught in illegal wire snares—averaging about eight deaths yearly Unsustainable tourism: Unregulated safari activities have led to habitat stress and disrupted natural behavior ...
