I was on my way to Yala one evening and, near Wilapalawewa, I noticed a leopard lying beneath a tree. I took cover and watched. The leopard was lying on its belly with its forelegs stretched forward and its gaze was fixed on a herd of spotted deer which was grazing about 100 yards away. It kept tossing its tail about but its head and body were motionless. The unsuspecting deer were nibbling the grass and moving slowly forward towards the leopard. As they approached closer and closer the leopard gradually brought its forelegs back close to its body and kept its head low down, but the occasional twitching of the tail continued. When the deer were within 20 yards the leopard became very tense and I knew that the charge was imminent.