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.

Anurag said, 'We were tracking a tiger but on the way on Tadoba lake we heard a deer call and at the next moment we saw Black leopard. It was sitting on the pathway. 'Then he saw a deer and then he tried to hunt that deer but he failed. Then again it came back on road and sat there for 15-20 minutes and we got some amazing shot of the majestic animal. 'It is the only black leopard of Tadoba national park.' The black pigmentation can occur in a number of species, including the 'Panthera' genus, which includes leopards and the larger member of the Panthera family - jaguars. Indian leopards are listed as a vulnerable species following habitat loss and poaching. Between 12,000 and 14,000 are believed to live in India. Watch video here: