Silent Stride

I was exploring Wilpattu National Park in search of wildlife encounters when, suddenly, I spotted a leopard crouched in the grass beside the road. The driver hadn’t noticed and was about to pass it, so I quickly knocked on the roof of the jeep. Startled, the leopard leapt high and disappeared into the forest. I thought I had missed my chance to capture it—until I heard rustling in the vegetation. Moments later, it emerged again, walking out into the open and crossing the road right in front of us. We were the only vehicle there, and the experience was pure magic—a rare, intimate moment that left me in awe of the wild’s quiet power.