[Watch] Rare Black Panther Spotted With Its Cub In Odisha’s Nayagarh Forests

Bhubaneswar: A rare melanistic leopard carrying its cub has been sighted in forests of Odisha’s Nayagarh.

Stating that the sighting of the leopard reflects the region’s incredible biodiversity, PCCF (Wildlife) Prem Kumar Jha shared a video of the same on X. “These elusive ‘black panthers’ are vital to the ecosystem-protecting their habitat ensures a thriving wildlife heritage,” he wrote.

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

Nayagarh DFO Kshama Sarangi said that four melanistic leopards were found in trap cameras in Nayagarh and Mahanadi Wildlife forest ranges. “The females are in our area and males in Mahanadi range. Last year, they gave birth to two cubs, of which one was melanistic. They have given birth to a few cubs this year too on basis of which we can say the population of melanistic leopards is increasing in the area,” she added.