Black Panther spotted in Africa for the first time in 100 years

Turns out, the mythical African black leopard really does exist.

Biologists shot rare footage of the sleek big cat walking majestically in Kenya—the first time the animal has been photographed in Africa since 1909, says Nick Pilfold, a global conservation scientist at the San Diego Zoo.

Pilfold said they captured the footage after months of watching and waiting. His team of biologists had placed remote wildlife cameras to track the leopard population near a conservancy in Laikipia County last year when they heard reports of a possible black leopard sighting.

“We intensified our camera placement in the area the reports were being made,” he said Tuesday night. “Within a few months, we were rewarded with multiple observations on our cameras.”

The female leopard’s coat color is pitch black as a result of melanism, a gene mutation that results in an over-production of pigment, Pilfold said. It’s the opposite of albinism—and although the leopard’s coat appears black during the day, its rosette patterns are visible in nighttime infrared imagery.

While there have been reports of sightings of black leopards—also known as black panthers—the last confirmed observation with photographic evidence was in Ethiopia more than a century ago, he said.

“It is likely that black leopards have been living in Kenya all along, it is only that high quality imagery to confirm it has been missing until now,” Pilfold said.

Kenya’s Daily Nation newspaper said Tuesday that its photographer, Phoebe Okall, shot an image of a black leopard in 2013 in the same region. It’s unclear whether that image was publicized at the time.

 

Black Panther spotted in Africa for the first time in 100 years

Turns out, the mythical African black leopard really does exist. Biologists shot rare footage of the sleek big cat walking majestically in Kenyathe first time the animal has been photographed in Africa since 1909, says Nick Pilfold, a global conservation scientist at the San Diego Zoo. Pilfold said they captured the footage after months of watching and waiting. His team of biologists had placed remote wildlife cameras to track the leopard population near a conservancy in Laikipia County last year when they heard reports of a possible black leopard sighting. We intensified our camera placement in the area the reports were being made, he said Tuesday night. Within a few months, we were rewarded with multiple observations on our cameras. The female leopards coat color is pitch black as a result of melanism, a gene mutation that results in an over-production of pigment, Pilfold said. Its the opposite of albinismand although the leopards coat appears black during the day, its rosette patterns are visible in nighttime infrared imagery. While there have been reports of sightings of black leopardsalso known as black panthersthe last confirmed observation with photographic evidence was in Ethiopia more than a century ago, he said. It is likely that black leopards have been living in Kenya all along, it is only that high quality imagery to confirm it has been missing until now, Pilfold said. Kenyas Daily Nation newspaper said Tuesday that its photographer, Phoebe Okall, shot an image of a black leopard in 2013 in the same region. Its unclear whether that image was publicized at the time.