Keeping everyone informed
The Government of Sri Lanka, through the Attorney General, informed the Supreme Court on 29.07.2025 that it has decided to revoke Extraordinary Gazette No. 2383/05 dated 06.052024, which altered the boundaries of the Wedithalathive Nature Reserve, removing part of it from protected status.
In this article, I would like to consider a few aspects of the evolving and complex relationships between people and leopards, particularly in connection with the tourism industry.
The Sunday Times readers may have read that the Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) is genetically distinct from its Indian counterpart. Many would have read that the Sri Lankan leopard is an apex predator.
Leopards are one of the most mysterious and elusive creatures on our planet: they’re rarely seen and, when they are, it’s usually swiftly. Hannah and Noah, two wildlife filmmakers, have been lucky enough to have dedicated over 3 years of their career to this extraordinary animal, including during the making of Netflix’s “Living With Leopards”.
On 15th March 2025, the Department of Agriculture conducted a Rapid Visual Census (RVC) across Sri Lanka to assess the presence of commonly reported wildlife species considered agricultural pests. The five-minute observation window, from 8:00 am to 8:05 am, invited participation from the general public, including farmers, school children, and local officials. Forms were distributed in advance and collected following the survey
