‘The Black Diamond’: Photographer Captures Ultra-Rare Black Leopard

Black leopards, also known as black panthers, sound like mythical animals seen in fantasy movies and books. However, these extremely rare animals are just leopards that are born with a genetic condition called melanism which gives them black-colored fur. Researchers estimate that at most just 11 percent of leopards are ‘black panthers’, which makes them extremely rare to spot. Last year, photographer Narayan Malu managed to take a perfect shot of a black leopard. This photo was taken at the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. While sharing the photo, Malu described the big cat as “The Black Diamond!!!” Commenting on it, an Instagram user wrote, “Fantastic Frame.” Another person described it as “Phenomenal.”

A post shared by Narayan Malu (@malunarayan)

In September last year, a mesmerising photo of differently coloured leopard cubs that were born in the same litter went viral. The photo showed three leopard cubs perched over a rock and gazing intently at the camera. It was shared on X by Nature inFocus, a media house “dedicated to narrating stories that celebrate and champion nature”.

The photo was taken by photographer Krishnamurthy S. It was the finalist at the Nature inFocus Photography Awards 2023 in the category of Wildscape & Animals in Their Habitat. Often people hold the misconception that black leopards are a different species but this photo managed to show that in reality, black leopards or black panthers are like normal leopards with melanism.

In March last year, a video showed a leopard and a black panther walking next to each other in the wild. The stunning video, captured in slow motion, featured a leopard named Cleo and a black panther named Saya. What makes this video special is how both Cleo and Saya appear the same in height and size. This combined with their coordinated moves, gives an impression that Saya is the shadow of Cleo. The video was taken at the Bandipur and Nagarhole national parks in Karnataka by wildlife photographer Shaaz Jung.

A post shared by Shaaz Jung (@shaazjung)

While sharing this video, Jung wrote, “Your shadow is your best friend. On World Wildlife Day here’s the most incredible moment I’ve ever captured. Saya and Cleo, in perfect synchrony. What a beautiful world.”

The video has gathered over 12 lakh likes since it was posted on March 3. Commenting on it, an Instagram wrote, “Wow, what a powerful duo! The regal Black Panther and the lightning-fast Cheetah make quite the dynamic pair. Enjoyed watching this. Thanks for sharing”.