“The Ghost and the Darkness” can be a brand-new identity given to the Black Leopard. A black leopard is usually called black panther or jaguar, and presumably believed to be a different species altogether. However, a black leopard is dark in colour due to ‘melanism’, which is quite commonly found in leopards – it’s a condition, wherein the whole skin of the animal, including its spots, is black in colour.
A black panther has the darkish brown (or black) fur with black rosettes and are sometime visible under favourable light conditions. These panthers or melanistic leopards are therefore not a separate species, however a form of melanism.
What is Melanism?
Melanism is the advanced version of the dark-coloured pigment called melanin found in the skin, hair, fur or feathers of various organisms. Pseudo-melanism, also known as abundism, is another type of pigmentation, which is identified by dark spots or larger than usual stripes on the body of an animal.
Melanism and abundism are supposedly the outcome of genetic mutation, but can occur due to peculiar temperature changes during gestation.
Interestingly, black panthers use their melanism to their foraging advantage when they set out for hunting at night.
There are a total 9 subspecies of leopards found in the world.
- African Leopard (Panthera pardus pardus)
- North China Leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis)
- Persian Leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor)
- Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya)
- Indian Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca)
- Javan Leopard (Panthera pardus melas)
- Arabian Leopard (Panthera pardus nimr)
- Indochinese Leopard (Panthera pardus delacouri)
- Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis)
Leopards and their characteristics
Indian landscape is dominated by Indian Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) and the black version is also of the same species. Besides India, Panthera pardus fusca is also found in Nepal, Bhutan and parts of Pakistan. Male leopards are bigger in size than female leopards. A male usually weighs between 50kgs to 80kgs while a female is typically between 29kgs to 35 kgs. Leopards have strong legs, which help them climb trees, big boulders, and their long tails help them balance themselves on the branches while chasing monkeys up in the trees.
Leopards can be quite adaptive to most of the regions. They are found in all kinds of forests – rainforests, deciduous forests and also alpine coniferous forests. They are also found in semi-arid regions, some parts of the desert and dry scrub grasslands. Leopards have also started to familiarize themselves to the fringes of popular metro cities and also to agricultural fields.
Where can we see black leopards in India?
Apparently, black leopards are found more in regions with the highest rainfall and dense foliage. Most of the records about the existence of black leopards in India has been from North East India and Western Ghats.
Nonetheless, as more regions in India have been explored by wildlife enthusiasts, there have been records of black leopards been discovered in different parts of the country. You can pursue these elusive wild cats in the following wildlife sanctuaries in India:
Nagarhole National Park (Kabini, Karnataka)
Nagarhole National Park (Kabini) is located in the Indian State of Karnataka. Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the southern part of the Nagarhole National Park, has become famous in recent years for its black leopard sightings. The sanctuary is named after the river Kabini.
The male black leopard of Kabini is named ‘Saya’ meaning ‘shadow’. He is the living Bagheera from the famous novel The Jungle Book (Mowgli).
Tadoba-Andhari National Park (Tadoba, Maharashtra)
Tadoba-Andhari National Park derives its name from God “Tadoba” or “Taru” worshipped by the local tribes. Taru was a brave village chieftain, who was killed in a fierce encounter with a tiger. The name Andhari originates from the Andhari River.
Tadoba National Park is located 100 kms towards the southern side of Nagpur, Maharashtra. It is famously known for tiger sightings with reportedly more than 80 tigers found in the park. Tadoba National Park is one of the most preferred tiger destinations in India and the largest in the state. Tadoba has gained immense popularity in recent years as the top park for tiger sightings, and is one of India’s forty-seven project tiger reserves.
Besides tigers, Tadoba is also known for leopard and sloth bear sightings.
In 2018, a Belgian family was lucky to spot a sub adult partial black leopard at a waterhole on a late evening safari in the Kolsa Range. It was difficult to believe the sighting, as black leopards in Central India were known to be rare. However, the forest officials captured the black leopard sightings through their camera traps and the presence of black cats was confirmed. The leopard is dotingly called ‘Blackie’ by the park officials.
Pench National Park (Pench, Madhya Pradesh)
Pench National Park, a surreal park that beholds the memories of Sher khan, Baloo, Bagheera, and the Mowgli, will sway you with its amazing sightings. The dry mixed forest is nestled in the southern Satpura-Maikal ranges of Central highlands and straddles on the borders of the two states, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
We all heard about Pench being the newest park to inhabit a black leopard at the beginning of this year, but it remained a mystery until now, since it couldn’t be sighted enough. However, this beauty has now been witnessed a few times, near Karmajhiri gate and the presence of a melanistic cub, about 8 months old, born to a non melanistic mother, has now been confirmed. It was this year’s 3rd sighting of this newcomer, who is bound to attract a lot of wildlife lovers in the days to come.
In year 2020, a few tourists had gone to explore the buffer area called the Teliya zone and were lucky to spot and make a video of a Leopardess with her two cubs and one black leopard. As the video went viral, the forest department very excitedly placed their camera traps to capture the first Bagheera – the black leopard of the park. Teliya Zone is 4 km away from Turia Gate Pench and is known for the sighting of this particular black leopard known as ‘Bagheera’.
Pugdundee Safaris is your escape into the wild with sustainability at the core of everything it does. From its eco-friendly lodges spread across the central highlands of India to its responsible jungle safaris and nature experiences, Pugdundee Safaris gives its guests the very best of wildlife and nature. To make your black leopard safari experience further exhilarating, consider staying at Waghoba Eco Lodge while in Tadoba, Maharashtra and when in Pench, Madhya Pradesh consider Pench Tree Lodge as your hosting partners.
As you plan your wildlife tour to India, get in touch with our trip curators at Pugdundee Safaris.
Call us at: +91-9718637711, +91-8800637711 Email: [email protected]
We promise you a wildlife experience that is unique, authentic and unforgettable.
