What rare mammals can be seen in Udawalawe?

While rare and hard to find, visitors to Udawalawe sometimes catch a glimpse of the Sri Lankan leopard, the rusty-spotted cat, and the deeply reclusive sloth bear.

The place is best known for elephants, but the predators are also lively and healthy. Here, leopards tend to be less accustomed to vehicles compared to Yala, so sightings rely a lot on chance, plus the careful gaze of a skilled tracker. The rusty-spotted cat, among the smallest wild cats on earth, is strictly nocturnal, yet you may see it near the park edges at dusk.