In early 2019 pictures of Black Leopards aka Black Panthers started to appear on social media platforms which showed images taken by scientist & wildlife photographers using camera traps. Very few people have actually seen these rare & shy cats leave alone photographing them using regular cameras.   It seemed while this was happening in Kenya a few years ago in India’s Kabini Forest the appearance of a Black Panther named Saya became an internet sensation overnight with nature lovers & wildlife photographers around the world. These melastic cats are found in different parts of the world. They are not a different species but a mutation of their genes with over production of darker pigmentation (melanin) giving them the dark velvety coats.   Melanistic cats are found in different species like Serval Cat, Leopards & even Jaguars. I also remember seeing a documentary produced by the BBC that was filming in the Aberdare National Park many years where they captured a scene with a Black Leopard & even a Black Serval in the moorlands. They are so rare & mystical. I have always hoped to see these “super natural” cats in the wild as they have a different aura & mysticism about them.   I didn’t know […]