Legends with names

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Ceremonial tusker · Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara Kandula (Kelaniya) A tusker of the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, gifted by Thailand more than 20 years ago when he was about nine years old. He walks in major processions…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Ceremonial tusker · Kataragama Devalaya Kataragama Wasana The tusker of the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya, bought in 1977 by former minister Vimala Kannangara and gifted to the Devalaya. He has carried the Sacred Tooth Relic…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Leopard — not this animal

Leopard · Kumana Kati Kati (KLF25) is a female leopard of Kumana National Park; "Kati" is the name used for her in the Leopards of Kumana citizen-science field guide, which is based…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Galgamuwa · 16 October 2026 Kawanthissa Kawanthissa (also spelt Kavantissa) was a huge wild tusker of the Galgamuwa area in Kurunegala District, about 11 feet tall with tusks over six feet long, and was…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Leopard — not this animal

Leopard · Kumana Kesha Kesha (KLF23) is a female leopard of Kumana National Park; "Kesha" is the name used for her in the Leopards of Kumana citizen-science field guide, which is based…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Leopard — not this animal

Leopard · Kumana Khema Khema (KLF11) is a female leopard of Kumana National Park; "Khema" is the name used for her in the Leopards of Kumana citizen-science field guide, which is based…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Leopard — not this animal

Leopard · Kumana Kiso Kiso (KLF14) is a female leopard of Kumana National Park; "Kiso" is the name used for her in the Leopards of Kumana citizen-science field guide, which is based…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Minneriya · 2024 Koliya Koliya was a young tusker of Minneriya National Park who usually moved with the long-tusked bull Sumedha. He was shot in 2024, and his decomposed body was found…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Leopard — not this animal

Leopard · Yala · late 2019 (assumed) – Krish Krish (Weli Wala 2:3 Male, YM 49) is a male leopard of Yala National Park; "Krish" is a name used by Yala trackers and the Leopard Trails team.…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Leopard — not this animal

Leopard · Kumana Kubhira Kubhira (KLM25) is a male leopard of Kumana National Park; "Kubhira" is the name used for him in the Leopards of Kumana citizen-science field guide, which is based…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Yala · 2009 (carcass found 23 August 2009) Kublai Khan Kublai Khan was a photogenic Yala tusker named after the Mongol emperor. Wildlife photographer Lal Anthonis first saw him in December 1987 near Patanangala, when he was about…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage · about 1965 – Kumari Kumari is a wild-born female who was one of the five orphans with which the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage opened in 1975. With the bull Vijaya she produced the…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Leopard — not this animal

Leopard · Yala · mid-2017 – August 2019 Lance Lance (Pan Wala 3:3 male, YM 17) was born in mid-2017 near Kotabendi Wewa in Yala, the brother of the famous male Lucas. In August 2019 he was…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Leopard — not this animal

Leopard · Kumana Leela Leela (KLF5) is a female leopard of Kumana National Park; "Leela" is the name used for her in the Leopards of Kumana citizen-science field guide, which is based…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Leopard — not this animal

Leopard · Yala · 2017 – Lira Lira (Mahaseelawa 3:2 Male 1, YM 26) is a male leopard of Yala National Park; "Lira" is a name used by Yala trackers and the Leopard Trails team.…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Leopard — not this animal

Leopard · Yala · 2017 – Loki Loki (Mahaseelawa 3:2 Male 2, YM 25) is a male leopard of Yala National Park; "Loki" is a name used by Yala trackers and the Leopard Trails team.…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Leopard — not this animal

Leopard · Yala · about May/June 2017 – Lucas Lucas (Pan Wala 2:2 male) is a famous male leopard of Yala Block 1, born around May/June 2017 near Kotabendi Wewa with his brother Lance. He took over…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Leopard — not this animal

Leopard · Yala Lucky Lucky (Ginikasaya Wala 2:3 Male, YM 05) is a male leopard of Yala National Park; "Lucky" is a name used by Yala trackers and the Leopard Trails team.…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Sri Lankan elephant abroad · about 1975 – Lucy Lucy is a female elephant born in the wild in Sri Lanka and orphaned, who came through the Pinnawala orphanage and arrived at the Edmonton Valley Zoo in…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Leopard — not this animal

Leopard · Kumana Maala Maala (KLF37) is a female leopard of Kumana National Park; "Maala" is the name used for her in the Leopards of Kumana citizen-science field guide, which is based…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Leopard — not this animal

Leopard · Yala · 2019 – Machi Machi (Thelambu Kema 2:2 Female, YF 51) is a female leopard of Yala National Park; "Machi" is a name used by Yala trackers and the Leopard Trails team.…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Leopard — not this animal

Leopard · Yala · 2009 – Macy Macy (Thelambu Kema 3:3 Female) is a female leopard of Yala National Park; "Macy" is a name used by Yala trackers and the Leopard Trails team. First photographed…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Temple tusker · Muthiyangana Vihara · September 2024 Madhu (Muthiyangana) A 28-year-old tusker of the Muthiyangana Rajamaha Vihara in Mahiyangana, donated in 1999 by former Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake. He took part in peraheras at the Sri Dalada…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Leopard — not this animal

Leopard · Yala Maggi Maggi (Kudaseelawa 2:3 Female, YF 04) is a female leopard of Yala National Park; "Maggi" is a name used by Yala trackers and the Leopard Trails team. A…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Leopard — not this animal

Leopard · Kumana Maha Maha (KLM16) is a male leopard of Kumana National Park; "Maha" is the name used for him in the Leopards of Kumana citizen-science field guide, which is based…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Yala Maha Poottuwa Maha Poottuwa ('the big crossed one') was a cross-tusked bull of Yala Block I; his right tusk crossed over his left. He first appeared in the late 1950s…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Minneriya Mahasen Mahasen is a giant cross-tusked wild tusker, reported in 2017 to be about 12 feet tall with tusks about six feet long; he is sometimes called "Kathira Dala…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Ceremonial elephant · Dalada Maligawa Maitri An elephant picked from the Udawalawe elephant transit home (Eth Athuru Sevana) and gifted to the Sri Dalada Maligawa by President Chandrika Kumaratunga in 1999. In 2017 he…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Leopard — not this animal

Leopard · Yala · 2019/20 – Malee Malee (Agil Wala 2:2 Female, YF 55) is a female leopard of Yala National Park; "Malee" is a name used by Yala trackers and the Leopard Trails team.…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Sri Lankan elephant abroad · 28 November 2023 Mali (Vishwamali) Mali, formally Vishwamali, was a female elephant found orphaned in the Sri Lankan wild and sent by Sri Lanka in 1977, at about three years old, as a…