As iconic wild leopard ages in Sri Lanka, debate about human intervention ensues

For more than a decade, a male leopard named Neluma has maintained dominance over Sri Lanka’s Wilpattu National Park, his majestic demeaner and tolerance for human presence making him a firm favorite among wildlife enthusiasts.
With a hernia and recent injuries caused during hunting, the ageing cat makes calls for help, but naturalists say that nature should take its course while veterinarians record difficulties in treating him.
In a recent incident, a tiger killed a wildlife ranger at the Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan. This tiger’s famous mother, Arrowhead, was fed by forest officials during her final days, which naturalists caution against as such interventions could teach young cubs to associate people with food.
Sri Lanka’s Yala National Park has adopted a practice of providing water to animals during intense periods of drought, but conservationists say that such interventions, too, may have long-term repercussions despite the act being well-intended.

COLOMBO — Sri Lanka’s largest protected area, the Wilpattu National Park, recognized as one of the best places in the country to observe leopards in the wild, has long been a favorite among wildlife lovers. Among its most iconic residents is a dominant male leopard affectionately known as Neluma, named after Nelum Vila, a lotus-filled villu, a unique wetland ecosystem, where he was first sighted as a cub.

Over the years, Neluma became a familiar figure in Wilpattu’s central zone, famous for his bold demeanor and remarkable tolerance for safari vehicles. Unlike the other typically elusive leopards (Panthera pardus kotiya), he allowed extended, close-up encounters that thrilled visitors and photographers alike.

Now more than 10 years old, signs of Neluma’s decline are evident. A large swelling, believed to be a hernia, hangs from his belly. Recently, he failed in an attempted buffalo calf hunt and was injured during the herd’s counterattack. In another rare moment, even a stray domestic dog managed to escape his grasp, a scenario unthinkable during Neluma’s prime.

Regular visitors to the park recall how Neluma helped to put Wilpattu on the map as a prime wildlife destination. “On days when no leopards appeared, Neluma often saved our tours, casually going about his business, unfazed by our presence,” says Ranjan Nishantha, a safari jeep driver who has operated in Wilpattu since 2012.

Affectionately known as Neluma, this dominant male leopard of Sri Lanka’s Wilpattu National Park is now in the twilight of his life. He has now sparked a wide debate about human intervention in treating injured wild animals or those suffering from age-related ailments. Image by Wasiri Rasu Gajaman.

An ageing, and beloved, apex predator

The recent sightings of the ageing leopard limping and in visible distress have triggered public sympathy where some wildlife lovers have urged wildlife authorities to step in and provide veterinary support. Among them is Wasiri Rasu Gajaman, a medical professional and passionate wildlife photographer. “Neluma is more than a wild animal as he is an icon of Wilpattu and a symbol of Sri Lanka’s natural heritage. He deserves care in his time of need,” Gajaman tells Mongabay.

But this view is not universally shared. Conservationists and wildlife officials are cautious in their approach. “If Neluma is removed from his territory even temporarily for treatment, younger, stronger males will likely take over. At his age, he won’t be able to reclaim it, which would make his survival even more difficult,” says Namal Kamalgoda, a regular Wilpattu visitor and an independent environmental activist.

Kamalgoda says that the problem should be considered through an ecological lens. “We cannot let emotions dictate decisions. In nature, countless leopards die young. Are we to intervene only when the animal is well known? Ultimately, the unwritten rule in the jungle is survival of the fittest,” he tells Mongabay.

This sentiment is echoed by other leading figures in Sri Lanka’s wildlife conservation. “In conservation science, interventions in wild populations must be grounded in ecological principles, real-world data, and an understanding of how animal populations work,” states a joint statement by Rukshan Jayewardene, former president of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS); Manori Gunawardena, conservation biologist at Environmental Foundation Limited (EFL); and Nalinika Obeysekera, a veterinarian.

They caution against instincts driving people to feed or treat injured animals, as such actions can unintentionally cause greater harm to both the individual and the ecosystem and, despite being well-intended, may disrupt natural processes.

Having passed his prime, Neluma often appears to be in discomfort, with a large hernia swelling on his belly, while sporting injuries sustained during a recent, brutal buffalo attack during a hunt. Image by Pasindu Rukshan.

Grounded in ecological principles

Tharaka Prasad, the current director of wildlife health at the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), confirms the department has no plans to intervene. “Neluma is an old leopard and tranquilizing him would be risky. Treating apex predators is not like treating a domestic animal as you need to monitor them through recovery and plan for their rehabilitation, which also demands substantial resources,” Prasad tells Mongabay.

He also refers to the department’s limited capacity as the entire country has only 15 wildlife veterinarians, with 18 positions still unfilled. “We are often forced to prioritize cases that involve human-wildlife conflict. Treating animals injured naturally is more complex to justify, given our limited human power,” he says.

Fierce battles for dominance between elephants often end in serious injury or even death of one rival. Despite these being natural events in the wilds, wildlife officers and even villagers sometimes attempt to separate the fighting bulls or treat the wounded. Image courtesy of the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Human interventions and ethical concerns

Besides, veterinarians spend their time mostly on the treatment of elephants injured due to the increasing incidents of human-elephant conflict. However, some elephants injured in natural battles — such as fights for dominance between bulls — also require time and attention, according to Prasad. There are many occasions when villagers and wildlife officers attempt to separate elephants engaged in such battles and treat the injured beasts.

“We face serious ethical dilemmas on a daily basis,” Prasad tells Mongabay. “As wildlife managers, we’re not supposed to intervene in natural cases. But as veterinarians, we cannot turn away from wounded animal brought to us, regardless of the cause,” he says.

Several artificial waterholes have been constructed in Sri Lanka’s Yala National Park to provide water for wildlife during severe droughts. However, this practice has faced criticism as an unnecessary human intervention, with ecologists arguing that droughts naturally regulate populations and play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance. Image courtesy of the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Meanwhile, Jayewardene underscores the long-term risks of intervention. “Helping an ageing leopard by feeding or treating it may be an act of compassion, but it can lead to unintended consequences,” he says. “Old leopards that lose their ability to hunt may start depending on provided food, which can attract other animals — especially its family members living close by, to feed on provided meals. This will eventually result in animals associating humans with feeding — creating a new set of problems.”

This concern is not unique to Sri Lanka. In India, a similar episode with a famed tigress named Arrowhead in Ranthambhore National Park in Rajasthan state ended tragically. After officials fed her during her final days, one of her grown offspring later attacked and killed a forest ranger — possibly after learning to associate humans with food. Such stories underline the dangers of taming wild instincts. “Feeding or treating big cats may erode their natural fear of humans, increasing the risk of conflict,” warns Jayawardene, citing the above incident as one that calls for caution.

Arrowhead, the iconic tigress from India’s famous Ranthambore National Park, died on June 19, 2025, at 11 years old due to a brain tumor. Park officials fed her during her final months, a move which was later criticized after another tiger, possibly associating humans with the provision of food, fatally attacked a ranger. Image by Vimukthi Weeratunga.

The debate isn’t limited to leopards. Sri Lanka’s Yala National Park has started providing water during the peaks of the drought spells — a move some ecologists argue as disruptive of animal behavior, altering the predator-prey dynamics, and encouraging overpopulation of certain species.

“Drought is part of nature’s rhythm,” says Jayewardene. Even during droughts, concealed cavities within rocks, known as kema, typically retain water, enabling resilient animals to hydrate. This natural phenomenon ensures that not all animals perish, thus allowing for a natural regulation of their populations. “But artificial interventions, even with good intentions, can destabilize the ecosystem,” says Jayewardene.

Like Neluma, Lucas was among the largest and boldest male leopards in the Yala National Park. Lucas, too, is entering his twilight years. Image by Mevan Piyasena.

Nature taking its course

As Neluma approaches the twilight years of his life, the big cat has become much more than a majestic leopard with a glorious past. His present-day struggles highlight the difficulties of managing ageing wild animals, a powerful symbol of a particularly difficult conservation challenge: How far can humans be allowed to intervene to save individual wild animals, and when should nature be allowed to take its course?

For now, the decision is to let Neluma live out his final days in the wild — free and untamed. While some may disagree with the decision, it could be considered a necessary and ecologically responsible choice.

Similar to Neluma, there are several notable leopards in Yala National Park. A dominant male named Lucas is another majestic cat now reaching the final stages of his life. Neluma will remain significant in Sri Lanka’s conservation discussions as the leopard that reignited debate over human intervention in nature.

Banner image: Neluma, an iconic leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) became a familiar figure in the central zone of Sri Lanka’s Wilpattu National Park, known for his bold demeanor and remarkable tolerance for safari vehicles. Image by Namal Kamalgoda.