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MAMMALS

Introduction

The mammals of Wilpattu are one of the biggest attractions for visitors at the park, with around 41 species, including 4 of them being endemic to Sri Lanka (The Toque Monkey, Purple-faced Leaf Monkey, Sri Lanka Golden Palm Cat and Mouse Deer). You can find many mammals during the day, including the Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Sambar Deer, Wild Buffalo, Jackal, Porcupine, Wild Boar and the fast-moving Black Naped Hare that hop in the open grasslands. Nocturnal species such as slow moving Grey Slender Loris prowl silently looking for their pray, while smaller carnivorous mammals are swift and hard to find. Jungle Cat, Rusty Spotted Cat, Fishing Cat, civets and mongoose species require a keen eye to locate and are found more frequently in the early mornings and evening hours.

A colorful Painted Bat (Kerivoula picta) had been recorded near the villu habitats of Pomparippu and other insectivorous bat species are present in the abandoned buildings of the park premises.

The Sloth Bear can be seen alone or traveling with cubs, foraging for berries and  termites; while other larger mammals like the Barking Deer, herds of elephants and fearless leopard can be seen during day.

sri lankan sloth bear

while smaller carnivorous mammals are swift and hard to find. Jungle Cat, Rusty Spotted Cat, Fishing Cat, civets and mongoose species require a keen eye to locate and are found more frequently in the early mornings and evening hours.

Top five Mammals at Wilpattu

Explore to find out more about the top 5 species of mammals at the park.

Top five Mammals at Wilpattu

Explore to find out more about the top 5 species of mammals at the park.

sri-lankan-elephant at wilpattu

Sri Lankan Elephant

(Elephas maximus maximus)

The Sri Lankan Elephant is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant, and native to the country. The elephants can be seen in Wilpattu, especially in the western sector with more abundant grasslands (e.g. Pomparippu and Milavillu) and the northern sector. Large herds consisting of more than 50 individuals that include tuskers are known to migrate along the park boarders, yet these herds are rarely encountered in the central villus and tanks, with an exception for single elephants. Elephants by nature are social animals, where the oldest female leads the herd consisting of adult females and young. They are known to be extremely intelligent animals and have memories that would span many years.

Sri Lankan leopard, Panthera pardus kotiya

Sri Lankan Leopard

(Panthera pardus kotiya)

Wilpattu National Park is a popular destination for spotting majestic yet the elusive Sri Lankan leopards. Being the largest cat in the island, it can be observed during dawn and dusk, fearlessly prowling on the forest edges, basking by the villu habitats and the white sandy areas or sleeping under the shades of trees. The Sri Lankan leopard is considered as one of the largest of the subspecies of leopard in the world and the adult males are generally much larger than the females.

sri-lankan-wild-sloth-bear

Sri Lankan Sloth Bear

(Melursus ursinus inornatus)

Wilpattu National Park is known to harbor a considerable population of sloth bears and they are more easily observable during the dusk. These black-furred bears are omnivores, feeding primarily on termites and berries. It is known for its ecological relationship to the flora at the park.

purple-faced-leaf-langur

Purple Faced Leaf Langur

(Semnopithecus vetulus)

Unlike the Toque Monkey and the Indian Gray Langur, this endemic species is not as widely spread across the national park and can be found foraging for fruit and leaves mainly by the Riverine Habitats. Identified by its brownish-black coat around the body and limbs, its distinct white facial hair and grey face is contrary to the purple face that its name suggests.

grey slender loris

Grey Slender Loris

(Loris lydekkerianus)

The slow moving nocturnal Grey Slender Loris is a rare sight at the park. It moves with caution at nightfall foraging for berries, insects and smaller invertebrates. These night creatures are arboreal, meaning that they live in the trees. They can be easily identified by its distinct large eyes and heart-shaped face.

Facts

The Sri Lankan Elephant has smaller ears, and a more curved spine when compared to the African Elephant.
Elephants are classified as megaherbivores and consume up to 150 kg of plant matter per day.
The Sri Lankan Sloth Bear is the only member of Ursidae family in Sri Lanka and is highly threatened due to forest fragmentation in the dry arid zones, where it is found.
The Sri Lankan Leopard is the largest cat found in the country.
Purple-faced langur’s digestion is adapted to derive most required nutrients from complex carbohydrates found in leaves, with the help of specialized stomach bacteria
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deer in wilpattu
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