Rare Melanistic Leopard and Cub Captured on Camera in Odisha Forest

The sighting in Nayagarh district highlights the region's rich biodiversity and underscores the importance of habitat conservation.

A melanistic leopard, commonly known as a black panther, was spotted with its cub in Odisha's Nayagarh forest through a camera trap on December 24, 2024.
The video, shared by Odisha's Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Prem Kumar Jha, emphasizes the ecological significance of these elusive animals.
The All Odisha Leopard Estimation-2024 confirmed the presence of melanistic leopards in three forest divisions across the state.
Previous sightings of melanistic leopards in Odisha occurred during the tiger census in November 2023, marking this as a rare and exciting event for wildlife enthusiasts.
The state of Odisha is home to a total leopard population of 696, as per a 2024 census that utilized camera traps and other tracking methods.