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Indian Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca)

Italy Ngala Offline
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( This post was last modified: 07-05-2016, 10:56 PM by Ngala )

Photo and information credits: Praveen Siddannavar Photography
Black Panther! Melanistic leopards are commonly called Black Panthers, these are also known as black leopard and this term also applies to melanistic Jaguars. Black panthers are found in the dense tropical rain forest where the sunlight is low. The dark coloration acts as better camouflage in low sunlight conditions of the forest floor. These cats normally hunt on chital, black-naped hare, langurs, mouse deer.
Close examination of the colour of the black panthers will show that the typical markings known as rosettes or spots are still present, but are hidden by the excess black pigment, giving an effect similar to that of printed silk. And in this image the rosettes are clearly visible…
June 2016, (Kabini)Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, Karnataka State, India

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United States Pckts Offline
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Is Kabini the only place in india with photographed black leopards right now?
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Italy Ngala Offline
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(07-05-2016, 11:45 PM)Pckts Wrote: Is Kabini the only place in india with photographed black leopards right now?

Reply #98 is from Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, but for now, all information that i found about black leopards in India is from Kabini area. When i can, i will do further research on this.

It would be interesting have information about P. p. fusca in the north-eastern region from India, at the border with the Bangladesh and Myanmar, and subsequently verify the presence of black leopards also in these region.
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Italy Ngala Offline
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This is from Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary.

Photo and information credits: Thomas Vijayan Photography
What we SEE depends really on what we LOOK for...
The day I still can't believe when this black beauty appeared in front of me. The ultimate dream of sighting this beauty came true that evening in Dandeli wildlife sanctuary. Overcoming the risk and challenges were unbelievable. The main issue faced here was getting the focus in an extremely low light condition and the subject being black. Still managed to get some decent shot of this beauty. The starry golden eyes and the blood red tongue in the silky shining black body is still in front of my eyes.


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Argentina Tshokwane Offline
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( This post was last modified: 07-08-2016, 06:35 AM by Tshokwane )

From Kabini, June 2016. Credist to Immanuel Albert.

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Quote:Is Kabini the only place in india with photographed black leopards right now?
@Pckts I've been wondering the same sometimes. 

Taking a look at some of the black leopards posted, they all seem to be from Kabini.

But looking at it from a different perspective, maybe there's a reason for this. Maybe Kabini is a place were leopards are a bit more used to seeing people, to be observed, and followed, particularly having in mind the extremely irritating way Indians do it, as opposed as to how it's done in Africa.

So maybe that has something to do with it. Besides, leopards are the kind of cat that takes to the extreme the desire for being alone, and actually having the skill to thrive in a place and do it like a ghost.

Once thing I haven't seen, though, are adult black males. Usually, the thin and youngish feline photographed, like the one above, speaks to me of a female or a very young male.

Maybe, territorial, dominant males are even more secretive than other leopards.

These cats sure love their quiet lifestyles.

This are my two cents on this subject, I don't know how correct I might be.
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Italy Ngala Offline
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Photo and information credits: Jayaprakash Bojan Photography
"Eye Contact, Nagarhole, 2015"

*This image is copyright of its original author
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United States Pckts Offline
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http://www.bfirst.in/news/namma-ooru/103...d-bandipur

Black leopard cub in Bandipur
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Italy Ngala Offline
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( This post was last modified: 07-16-2016, 01:30 AM by Ngala )

Photo and information credits: Shyam Sundar Nijgal from Chayagraphy Ventures
Melanistic Leopard | Kabini | June 2016

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Argentina Tshokwane Offline
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( This post was last modified: 07-19-2016, 03:29 AM by Tshokwane )

Male leopard in katezari area of Tadoba. Credits to Swethakumar Ranga Rao.

*This image is copyright of its original author


*This image is copyright of its original author

Take a look at his interesting rosette pattern, one I hadn't seen in an Indian leopard.

For a moment, before reading the caption, I even thought it was a Jaguar.
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United States Pckts Offline
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Jaguars actually have smaller dots inside of their rosettes while leopards are open inside.
It's a good way to distinguish them.
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Argentina Tshokwane Offline
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(07-19-2016, 03:28 AM)Pckts Wrote: Jaguars actually have smaller dots inside of their rosettes while leopards are open inside.
It's a good way to distinguish them.
I know that.

What I meant is that at the first quick look, the rosette pattern looked to me like the one of a Jaguar.

Opening the pics, I saw that they had no spots inside.

But what I found curious, really, was the big rosettes.
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United States Pckts Offline
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Agreed, he does have large rosettes to go a long with his size.
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Argentina Tshokwane Offline
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Bandipur Tiger reserve Kanataka India 

17.07.2016
Credits to Naga Muthu‎.

*This image is copyright of its original author
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Argentina Tshokwane Offline
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Territory marking ...


TATR. June 16. Credits to Deepak Tilwani‎.

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Argentina Tshokwane Offline
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Bandipur Tiger reserve. Kanataka, India.

23.07.2016.
Credits to Naga Muthu.

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