In Sri Lanka, the fate of an aging, injured leopard, well-loved by tourists, has triggered a debate. Wildlife enthusiasts are urging authorities to help the leopard, named Neluma, in Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka’s largest protected area. However, wildlife officials and conservationists are against intervening and providing veterinary support, Mongabay contributor Malaka Rodrigo reported in June.
Neluma has long been a favorite of visitors and photographers at Wilpattu. Over the years, he’s become known for his tolerance for vehicles, which means he was often spotted during safari tours.
Now more than 10 years old, Neluma has shown not just signs of aging but also injuries. Besides a large bump on his belly, believed to be a hernia, Rodrigo reports that Neluma was injured during a buffalo herd’s counterattack after a failed attempt to hunt a buffalo calf. He was recently spotted limping. Another video showed a domestic dog fighting back and escaping from Neluma — something that would have been unlikely in the leopard’s prime.
“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,” Wasiri Rasu Gajaman, a medical professional and wildlife photographer, told Rodrigo.
But conservationists and wildlife officials disagree. Namal Kamalgoda, an independent environmental activist, said that if Neluma is taken away for temporary treatment, younger male leopards may take over his territory.
“At his age, he won’t be able to reclaim it, which would make his survival even more difficult,” Kamalgoda said. “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.”
Rukshan Jayewardene, a leading conservationist, told Mongabay that while helping an aging leopard is an act of compassion, it can have unintended consequences, including increased human interaction and conflicts, as was seen recently in the case of a tiger killing a forest ranger in India.
Tharaka Prasad, director of wildlife health at Sri Lanka’s Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), said his office would not 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.”
Moreover, Sri Lanka only has 15 wildlife veterinarians, Prasad said, which means the department prioritizes cases of human-wildlife conflict.
“We face serious ethical dilemmas on a daily basis … 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 said, referring to cases when villagers or wildlife officers call on them after breaking up fights between rival elephants.
Read Malaka Rodrigo’s full story here.
Banner image of Neluma in Sri Lanka’s Wilpattu National Park. Image courtesy of Namal Kamalgoda.
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