5. "J" Walking and more
Why does a leopard cross the road? To change its spot.
08.11.2021 - 08.11.2021 90 °F
View Paul to Yala Land on paulej4's travel map.
Chapter Five, August 11, 2021
Meet the dominant male leopard in Yala National Park’s Block One: “J”
Up before 5:00, on the road at 5:30, first in the park when it opened at 6:00, Nichantha drove, quickly, deep into the park. Avinka explained that it was good to be first in. Today, however, there are very few vehicles in the park so, when we encountered “J” at about 7:30, we were alone with him and it stayed that way. But only for a bit as he had places to be which took him stealthily behind the bush and out of our sight. (He is named"J" because of a patch on his forehead but I was unable to see it)Twenty minutes later, we found this 1.5-year-old-male in some rocks. We later identified him as Mega. Our experience with him was short-lived as well as he soon wound his way between boulders and was gone. Both leopards cared not one whit that we were ogling them; it was as if we weren't there at all. Elephant might take notice and might not. Deer and boar run away quickly. Hare and eagle and crocodile only flee when you come to near.
Just when we thought we were done with the morning drive, at around 9:45, we found a rare tusked Indian elephant. In Africa, all the males have tusks but in Sri Lanka only about 5% of males do. It is considered good fortune to sight one; good fortune that was had by us this morning. It is not good fortune to have tusks, however. Poachers kill to get tusks so if elephants don't have tusks they are less likely to be shot. Plus, elephants don't need tusks as they are mostly ornamental. I have seen some African elephants digging for salt with their tusks but getting that salt is hardly worth getting killed.
Elephants are not the same. Compare African and Asian elephants here and take note that only Indian elephants exist in Sri Lanka.
Back at camp I was told lunch would be served at 1:00. That leaves me a two-and-a-half hours to relax, write this and sort through photos which I hope convey a sense of what happened this morning. Mission accomplished; more to come in the afternoon.
Leaving at 2:00, we spotted buffalo taking spa treatments, storks walking gingerly, crocodiles on the ready (one ready for a teeth whitener at Dr. Lee's), peacocks strutting and then, more leopard sightings. First Lucas was sleeping in a tree. We could barely see him. Later, he jumped down and took off to the pan for a drink. Then, to wrap up the day, one more unidentified leopard crossed the road near us...to change his spot.
And, I get to do it all over again tomorrow. Oh, what a lucky man I am.
