Bhubaneswar: Here is some good news for wildlife lovers. A rare melanistic leopard with a cub has been spotted in a forest in Odisha’s Nayagarh district.
The leopard’s images were captured with the help of a camera trap installed in the forest.
Taking to his X handle, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Prem Kumar Jha wrote on Friday, “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.”
Jha has also attached a video and picture of the leopard in the post.
The All Odisha Leopard Estimation-2024 has revealed that the state has presence of melanistic leopards in three forest divisions.