Black leopard sighted during safari at Pench Tiger Reserve

A black leopard was sighted during a safari near the Mogarkasa gate at Pench Tiger Reserve. Tourists in 10 safari vehicles saw it emerge from dense vegetation. The leopard is known locally as Blacky or Badhira.

Nature guides Nilesh Meher and Nikhil Meher photographed the animal. The source reports that it had not been seen by tourists for several months.

Notable Points

• Estimated frequency of melanism: Melanism appears to occur in about 11% of leopards across the species’ range.