Maharashtra: Rare black panther cub rescued from well in Sindhudurg

The cub was suspected to have fallen into the well while chasing prey

The forest department on Thursday rescued a melanistic leopard cub that had fallen into an open, dry well in Sindhudurg. The cub, aged around one year, is suspected to have lost its way while chasing a prey and fell into the well. The forest department officials rescued in Goveri village near Kudal town in Sindhudurg. Dr Clement Ben, the chief conservator of forests (Territorial) Kolhapur, said, "The locals informed the forest department officials about the cub, and our staff rushed there immediately. With the help of villagers, they successfully rescued this rare panther."

The forest department officials are trying to reunite the cub with its mother, and have installed camera traps. The sighting of melanistic leopard or black panther in this area has surprised many. While some said that this is arguably the first sighting of melanistic leopard in the area, such black panthers have been spotted in the Konkan belt a few times.

The previous sightings

In May 2018, a family from Belgium visiting the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) were lucky enough to spot a partial melanistic leopard - an animal usually spotted only in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, Goa, and Kabini in Karnataka. It was the first time that the animal was captured on a camera. In November 2020, a tour operator spotted a black leopard during a safari at the Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. In July 2021, a black leopard was spotted in a camera trap during a recent census in Navegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve, spread over Gondia and Bhandara districts of Maharashtra.

What are black panthers?

Melanistic leopards are commonly called black panthers or black leopards. They are found in the forests of the Western Ghats and northeast India, and are black in colour due to the presence of excess melanin in their body. The colour of their fur is a mixture of blue, black, grey and purple.

Tiger found dead

A tiger was found dead near Waigaon village in Chandankheda. The carcass of the tiger was spotted in a farmland near Tadoba-Andhari National Park. It is suspected to have died of electrocution.