Monitoring cameras have been expanded to the east to assess leopard movement and population between the western and eastern areas. Long-term monitoring within the Dunkeld-Norwood Tea Trails Complex is providing a more detailed understanding of the leopards living in these estates. Researchers have determined that two females, likely a mother and daughter, share this range and both have cubs. The monitoring has also revealed that a male leopard, Arnold, continues to use this complex as his core range. Additionally, another male is being documented regularly, along with a visiting male from the western Peak Wilderness area, making for a population of at least 6+ individuals in this complex. Long-term monitoring is also used to identify leopard prey and consumption of domestic animals.

The research has found that leopards use temporal niche partitioning to avoid human presence, moving primarily at night. This adaptation is crucial for their survival in the fragmented landscape. The WWCT is providing this information to tea plantation communities and managers, emphasizing the importance of watershed forests. The setting of snares for other wildlife is also causing leopard deaths, and the WWCT is removing encountered snares, an issue that needs to be addressed by the tea estates as well.

The most significant finding is the identification of the ridge between the Castlereigh and Maskeliya reservoirs as a vital area for leopard conservation. Female leopards reside and breed in this area, unlike the roaming patterns of males. This ridge also serves as a connector corridor for leopard and other wildlife movement between the north-west and south-east sections of the Peak Wilderness Sanctuary. Several other endangered species are present in this ridge forest area. A proposal has been presented to the Chamber of Commerce Plantation Sector to protect this important ridge area. The establishment of the Dunkeld Conservation Station has been crucial for WWCT’s ongoing work. Continued monitoring is essential for the research and conservation efforts in this section of Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands World Heritage Sit.