Stunning Black Leopard Caught On Camera In Rare Photos
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Featured Image Credit: Caters
A photographer from India has filmed an extremely rare black leopard from just 30ft away.
Wildlife photographer, Anurag Gawande saw the melanistic leopard while on a safari at Tadoba National Park in western Maharashtra state earlier in January.
While the melanistic leopards are already rare because of their black coat, this male leopard is the rarest of its kind, with its black spots distinctively visible in the shiny coat.
In the series of snaps, the leopard can be seen crossing a safari way and then staring straight at the camera as Anurag films his actions.
The 24-year-old photographer says he was just 30ft away from the leopard when he spotted it.
"It was surprising because we thought we will see a tiger, but we saw black leopard strolling on the pathway!" Anurag said.
The photographer had previously spotted the rare leopard a year ago but said was equally thrilled to have seen it again.
"This was my second time that I was watching it.
"I felt the same thrill while watching it but this time I was aware of its moment. We kept our vehicle off and kept enough distance so that it will not move from the spot."
The leopard was hunting a deer at the national park when the photographer spotted it.
Anurag said: "We were tracking a tiger but on the way on Tadoba lake we heard a deer call and at the next moment we saw the black leopard. It was sitting on the pathway.
"Then he saw a deer and then he tried to hunt that deer but he failed. Then again it came back on road and sat there for 15-20 minutes and we got some amazing shot of the majestic animal.
"It is the only black leopard of Tadoba national park."
Hopefully Anurag will see the mysterious black leopard again soon!