In a rare event, scientists have spotted and photographed an African black leopard. The feat can only be described as extraordinary, considering it has been more than 100 years since the reclusive animal has been spotted and clicked by anyone.
Scientists photographed the leopard walking around in Kenya. The last time this animal was clicked was in 1909. And capturing it this time round wasn’t an easy task. The biologists had to lay in wait patiently for months to achieve this feat.
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They had to place remote wildlife cameras to track and monitor the leopards at Laikipia Wilderness Camp in Kenya. After months of patient monitoring and watching, they got lucky when they managed to click this young female leopard.
The leopards get their black colour due to a skin condition called melanism. In this, the body produces an excess of melanin pigment, giving them their black colour. Although the animals appear black in daylight, their spots can be seen when clicked through night time infrared photography.
These black leopards are also sometimes referred to as black panthers. The animals are very rare to find. And though they might have been living in Kenya for several years, this is the first time in nearly a century that some concrete proof has been found of its existence.
The news sure is exciting and wonderful. Let’s hope it does not lead to any unwanted attention for this beautiful and majestic animal.
