Changing Public Perception – Protecting Sri Lanka’s Leopards

A few articles have appeared in your newspaper regarding protecting  Sri Lanka’s Leopards. I fully agree that the Sri Lanka’s Leopards must be protected. Unfortunately, leopards go into human habitations in search of food, their favourites being dogs and cattle. I have been working in Maskeliya at a Tea Estate adjoining the Sri Pada Wildlife Reserve,  and  workers in one of the divisions had a problem with Leopards as they came in the night to their housing area looking for cattle and dogs. The workers would hear the Leopard walking around their houses but would not dare to come out in fear of their lives. I have seen a large Leopard by the road side when I was returning to the Estate from Maskeliya town. 
Leslie Abeyasekera
Colombo 06