Abstract
The leopard Panthera pardus fusca was once common and widespread throughout the whole of Sri Lanka (Ceylon). Its numbers have declined sharply in the last 100 years owing to the combined effects of hunting and habitat destruction, processes still very much in evidence today. There are less than 1000 leopards alive in Sri Lanka at the present time. The leopard's feature is bleak, and its survival depends upon its conservation within the country's national parks. A minimum of 25 leopards (home range 5·6 km 2) is estimated to utilize Block 1 of the Ruhuna National Park. The leopard is a solitary animal, active in the early mornings and evenings. Males are seen more commonly than the females. Breeding seems to coincide with the dry season. Litter size varies from two to three. An area the size of Block 1 appears to be the minimum that can support a viable leopard population.
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