The leopards of Yala (2)

My favourite shots of the leopards.  

Water Buffalo - Yala National Park

After the elephants, wild water buffaloes are the second largest mammals found in the park.  

Mugger crocodile - Yala National Park

Mugger crocodiles can be found in large numbers, basking under the sun at all the waterholes within the park.

A jackal at dusk - Yala National Park

Jackals hunt alone as opposed to dogs who hunt in pack. Highly opportunistic and intelligent, jackals eat whatever is available with least effort. This includes all kind of vertebrates and invertebrates plus  fruits and some vegetables. They readily scavenge as well.

Grey langur

Grey langurs are quite common in Sri Lanka. They are often wrongfully called "black face monkey" by the locals.

Red and yellow lapwings

 Two red lapwings by a fresh water pond. 

Their cousin the yellow lapwing.

Sri Lanka national flower

The “Nil Mahanel” flower, botanically known as “Nympheae Stellata” was declared the National Flower of Sri Lanka on 26th February 1986. You can find it for sale at the entrance of important Buddhist temples where they are being placed on the different altars by the devotees.

Local surfers at Unawatuna

As the sun was disappearing over the horizon, some surfers were still playing among the waves.

The Fishermen of Matara

Bringing in the catch of the day for sale at the port. Every fish is weighted prior to be lifted into reefer container trucks. Fishes in these images are yellow fin and big eye tunas. 

Portrait of a fisherman. He paused and asked for a picture to be mailed to him.

Spotted deers at Yala

A herd of spotted deers is taking advantage of the shade of a large tree.

The leopards of Yala

Hard to spot and mostly nocturnal, the leopard is Sri Lanka's top predator. With approximately 35 leopards, Yala National Park has one of world densest leopard populations.

The Rankot Vihara dagoba - Polonnaruwa

The 54m tall Rankot Vihara dagoba is the largest in Polonnaruwa and the fourth largest in Sri Lanka. The dome consists of earth fill covered by a brick mantle and plaster.

Harvesting tea leaves - Sri Lanka

Tea plantation workers were brought in the mountain region of Sri Lanka from South India by the British. They are Tamils of Hindu religion while local Sinhalese are Buddhist.

They now all have Sri Lankese nationality and have been fully integrated as regular citizens.

Views from the fortifications of Galle

Children are learning to dive from a rock just off the walls of the fort city of Galle. Some with more expertise will dive from the fortifications for some money.

Another view from the fortifications of the city.

Ella Gap and Rawana Falls

Ella Gap is a Hindu pilgrimage site as it is believed that Sita (from the tale of Rama & Sita) was kept at the feet of these mountains after having been kidnapped from India by the then king of Sri Lanka.

Closeby are the Rawana Ella Falls, 19m tall here pictured at the beginning of the dry season.

Asian elephants - Portrait

The pregnancy of a mother elephant last 22 months. Image taken at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Sri Lanka.

Asian elephants - Portraits

These images were taken at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Sri Lanka.

Asian elephants - Sri Lanka

After a short travel break, this image taken during bath hours at the Pinnawatula Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka (click on the image for larger version).