Extremely Rare Black Leopard Is Spotted In Indian Wildlife

The rare melanistic leopard was photographed by Anurag Gawande while he was in Tadoba National Park. Melanistic leopards are incredibly rare because of their black coats being highly coveted by poachers. Gawande said the leopard, pictured contrasted against clay-red ground, was spotted as it was hunting a deer. Around 11 per cent of leopards are melanistic - a unique pigmentation that turns their coats and skin black. You can watch video below the article.

While melanistic leopards are already rare due to their black coats being coveted by poachers, this particular male leopard is the rarest of its kind with its black spots distinctly visible on his shiny coat. The leopard - photographed as it was sharply contrasted against the clay-red ground it was walking over - is the only such wild cat in the the national park, Gawande said.