Black panther spotted in Mahabaleshwar

The black panther near the Pratapgarh fort in Mahabaleshwar. Melanistic leopards are called black panthers or black leopards

A black panther has been spotted near the famous Pratapgad fort in Mahabaleshwar, leaving wildlife lovers excited. This is perhaps the first such sighting in the area, said experts. A clip showing the big cat has gone viral. Melanistic leopards are commonly called black panthers or black leopards.

"Two herders Ravindra Jadhav and Subhash Jadhav from Kumthe village had taken their cattle to the foothills of Pratapgad for grazing when they spotted a black leopard. They also recorded a video of the melanistic leopard," said a forest department official.

In the nearly one-minute clip shot from a long distance on September 17 morning, a full-grown black panther can be seen sauntering. However, it disappears into a bush after hearing the voice of the cattle herders.

In May 2018, a family from Belgium was lucky to spot a partial melanistic leopard, which is usually spotted only in the Konkan region, Goa, and Kabini in Karnataka, inside the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. It was the first time the animal had been captured on camera.

In November 2020, a tour operator spotted a black leopard while on a safari at Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, also known as the Mowgli land. In July 2021, a similar big cat was spotted in a camera trap during a census exercise in Nawegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve spread over Gondia and Bhandara districts.

Black panthers are found in the forests of the Western Ghats and north-east India. They have excess melanin in their body. The colour of their fur is a mixture of blue, black, grey, and purple.

17 Sept
When the clip in which the big cat is seen was shot