Leopards are big, spotted cats - cousins of lions and tigers. The Sri Lankan kind is a bit bigger than the Indian leopard, partly because it doesn't have to compete with tigers or lions on the island. It is the top hunter, the boss of the food chain.
Each leopard has a different pattern of spots, called 'rosettes' because they look like tiny rose flowers. The pattern is unique - like a fingerprint - so park rangers who study them can tell each leopard apart.
Sri Lankan leopards love trees. They drag their meals up into the branches to eat in peace, away from other animals. They sleep up there too, draped over a thick branch like a long furry sock. Some leopards spend more time up in the trees than on the ground.
Leopards are mostly active at dawn and dusk, when the light is low. They hunt deer, wild boar and monkeys. They are masters of patience - sometimes a leopard will lie completely still for an hour, waiting for the right moment to pounce. Their spots help them disappear into the dappled shadow under a tree.