The Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) has clarified that the recent encounter between a dog and a leopard inside Wilpattu National Park was not caused by a domestic pet being brought into the park.
Director General M.G.C. Sooriyabandara issued the statement following an investigation triggered by a viral video showing the interaction, which raised concerns about whether dogs were being used to attract leopards for the benefit of tourists.
According to the inquiry, the incident occurred on January 29, 2025, near the Kumbukvila area of the park.
The dog had been identified as a guard dog belonging to a farmer in Randagama, Hunuwilagama, who allows it to roam freely to protect his cultivation.
According to the DWC, the owner noticed the dog missing on the day of the incident, but said that it had returned the following day.
Wildlife officials inspected the area and confirmed the dog’s presence at the owner’s plot. The DWC said the dog was at the plot with minor injuries visible on its body.
Meanwhile the, DWC said CCTV footage showed no evidence of domestic animals being smuggled into the park on the day of the incident.
Statements recorded from wildlife officers and individuals accused on social media revealed no inconsistencies, Sooriyabandara said.
Smuggling domestic animals into wildlife reserves is an offence, the Director General added. (Newswire)