Watch: Rare Black Panther Carrying Cub Spotted in Odisha’s Nayagarh Forest – A Stunning Biodiversity Moment
Watch: Rare Black Panther Carrying Cub Spotted in Odisha’s Nayagarh Forest – A Stunning Biodiversity Moment
In a remarkable sighting, a melanistic leopard was seen in Odisha’s Nayagarh forest with a cub. This awe-inspiring moment was captured on camera, showcasing the beauty of these elusive creatures. In the video, the black panther is seen carrying a cub in its mouth while wandering through the dense forest of Nayagarh.
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A rare melanistic leopard with cub has been sighted in central Odisha, reflecting the region's incredible biodiversity. These elusive "black panthers" are vital to the ecosystem-protecting their habitat ensures a thriving wildlife heritage. @ForestDeptt @CMO_Odisha pic.twitter.com/IlwaI0qipq
— Prem Kumar Jha (@Prem_CWLWOdisha) January 3, 2025
#WATCH | Nayagarh, Odisha: Rare melanistic leopard spotted with cub in Odisha’s Nayagarh forest.
— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2025
(Visuals Source: DFO) pic.twitter.com/HJKEOxU2BG
The video was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Prem Kumar Jha, who commented, “A rare melanistic leopard with cub has been sighted in central Odisha, reflecting the region’s incredible biodiversity. These elusive ‘black panthers’ are vital to the ecosystem—protecting their habitat ensures a thriving wildlife heritage.”
The footage was recorded using a camera trap set up in the forest, according to news agency PTI.
The All Odisha Leopard Estimation-2024 has indicated that these leopards are present in three different forest divisions within the state.
Sightings of black panthers are quite rare. The last notable sightings occurred in Odisha, where two black leopards were photographed in different locations during a tiger census using camera traps in November 2023.
Retired Indian Forest Service Officer Susanta Nanda shared images of these two black leopards on X, noting that the ongoing tiger census in Odisha is revealing exciting and unexpected wildlife in the state.
More recently, industrialist Harsh Goenka posted a video showing a leopard and a black panther near his home in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. He wrote, “This majestic creature was spotted outside our Coonoor home. A reminder that we are guests in their territory.”
According to a state-sponsored survey from last year, Odisha has a leopard population of 696. This census, conducted in May, was reported by state forest minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia on October 3, 2024. The study utilized 284 cameras and analyzed various factors like photographs, pug marks, scrapes, scats, urine spray, vocalizations, and livestock depredation to estimate the population.
