We have used the latest Leopard identification method which was developed by our research team after thorough analysis, in identifying the Leopards of the Yala National Park- Block-1. Such identified Leopards have all been given a Gender based Code and a Nick name. Our naming Convention differs from the naming convention of the African national parks and private reserves (By using the 1 st row spots of the Mystacial area, Gender and a location of the territory). A unique naming convention was adopted by us due to the following reasons...

• The Leopards of Yala are not Solitary and are not Confined to a Territory, as in Africa We believe that the reason for such behavior is that the Leopard in Africa is not the Apex predator and the availability of prey for African Leopards are limited. The scenario of the Leopards of the Yala national Park- Block-1 is quite different. They are the Apex predator of the park . The Abundance of water and the prey base makes the Leopard behavior in Yala different. Our research work has proven that the Leopard of Yala share their home ranges amongst individuals of both genders. Our research work has also proven that there are positive preferential interactions amongst Leopards in Yala.
• Due to the sharing of home ranges, we find that there are many Leopards who bear the same Mystacial spot count, in the same area.
• The Yala National Park, Block -1 is only 141 Sq Km’s and there are many prominent locations which are named, close to one another within this area. As an example, the Location Pan wala and Kotabendi weva are 2 locations which is only 330 meters apart. We do not see any Logic in naming a Leopard as per nearby locations.
• To make the Wildlife loving public more aware, interested and conscious of the identified Leopards by adopting a simple nick name in addition to the scientific coding we have given, instead of a confusing naming convention. We passionately believe that the public must be aware and conscious of what we strive to protect and conserve. We believe that greater conservation can be achieved through greater interest of all stakeholders and simplifying identifications can make more people interested and concerned of the Leopards they sight.

• Our research has established a new methodology in leopard identification termed by us as the multi-point leopard identification method. Please refer the abstracts published
• We have segregated the leopard’s coat to fifteen (15) points according to the spot and rosette formations of those areas for the purpose of identification and termed them as multi-point reference codes (MPC points).
• We suggest that the spot and rosette formations of a minimum 9 MPC points out of the 15 MPC points must be thoroughly compared with existing images before classifying a leopard as a newly identified leopard and when establishing the identity of an already identified leopard.
• Reasons for New identification method is to reduce misidentification errors that can occur due to the changes in spot and rosette formations. Errors in identification can lead to over estimation of populations and inaccurate data collection for research and management decisions.

• Before the start of our study, it was an accepted fact that the spot markings and rosette patterns of a leopard do not change over time.
• However, during our study, we observed that changes could occur in the spot markings and rosette patterns of leopards over time.
• As per our findings, these changes occur through injuries sustained by the leopards but may also occur without the presence of an injury.
• Out of 137 leopards, we continuously monitored 59 leopards and observed 29 instances of injuries in 16 of them.
• We closely observed these identified leopards. Some of them were observed with injuries on recaptures, for which we compared them with documented photos taken of those leopards prior to such injury, documented the leopards during the injury, and continuously observed the leopard after the injury.
• We have also observed Leopards with changes to their markings at the recaptures, without documenting injuries.
• Due to these changes, we had documented these 59 Leopards as a total of 68 separate leopards, representing an error rate of 15.25%.
• We had misidentified 9 Leopards as new Leopards though they had been in fact the same. We have presented 14 instances of the documented 29 instances of Change in this presentation.
• Changes in the spots and rosettes were observed to take two forms. They are termed by us as Obliterate and Rejig changes.

• When obliterate changes take place, a spot or rosette pattern change that was originally present is subsequently not visible. The spots are succeeded by the yellowish skin coat in the areas where obliterate changes have occurred. The rust yellow color of the skin coat may be lighter in places where obliterate changes have occurred.
• The change in the number of spots when a Obliterate change occurs have been counted. However, during our study, we observed that changes could occur in the spot markings and rosette patterns of leopards over time.

• A rejig change is when the prominence, shape, size, and appearance of the original spot or the rosette pattern changes. During our study of the 59 leopards, the majority of the spot alterations were identified in the forehead areas, Mystacial area, left and right sides of the face and the Left side of the Flank.
• The Rejig changes have been given a rank as 1 for the reduction in prominence and Rank 2 for Change in shape.