[Siyambala = Tamarind (Tamarindus indica), Gas = trees, Wala = waterhole]
Siyambalagas Wala 3:3 female was a literal kingmaker for the Yala block 1. She proved herself as a successful mother summa cum laude by raising several cubs up to adulthood and those cubs became exceptionally successful, some even becoming legends in the process.
She was one of the most sighted leopards in Yala Block 1 for the decade of 2010-2020. Her territory included the areas of Kotigala, Ūraniya Junction, Debaragas Wala, Lōlugas Wala, Siyambalagas Wala, Rathmal Wala, Karawgas Wala, Ūraniya Lagoon, Buthawa Plains, Maliththankotu Wala, and Welmalkema.
Siyambalagas Wala 3:3 female was first photographed in late 2008, as a sub-adult around Karawgas Wala and Palugaswala. But she was seen around Lōlugas Wala and Welmalkema areas too. Later, she managed to establish her territory in the same area.
She was photographed with her first litter of one cub in January 2012, at Ūraniya.
In 2014, she had a litter of three cubs (one male cub and two female cubs) out of which two of them survived to adulthood. The surviving male cub was the Rathmal Wala 4:5 male (Harak Hora/Cattle Thief) and the female cub was the Rathmal Wala 4:4 female who had established a territory close to her mother’s. [Also check Buthawa 2:3 female]
In July 2017, she had her third known litter of one male cub, which was the Ūraniya Road 3:3 male cub (he didn’t survive).
She showed an interesting behavior in November 2017, she was seen mating with her own son, the Rathmalwala 4:5 male (Harak Hora/Cattle Thief). This could be a technique for protecting her next litter from the hostile subadult male by convincing him that he is the father of cubs – a common practice among the females during their breeding times. Again she was seen on Kotigala, mating with the Weli Āra 2:2 male in April 2018. This time, the Karawgas Wala 4:4 female was also there trying to win the same male and the two females had to settle this with a fight.
In November 2018, she was photographed with her fourth litter of three cubs around Lōlugas Wala. (designated as the Lōlugas Wala 3:4 female, Lōlugas Wala 2:2 male, and the Lōlugas Wala 4:3 male). In the years 2019 and 2020, she was seen with her cubs in her territory.
Even though she has been missing since the beginning of 2021, the powerful bloodline she left behind is still active and alive in Block 1 of Yala National Park. She would be remembered as a legendary female who raised several dominant males and successful resident females.
