Legendary Black Leopard Spotted for the First Time in 100 Years!

Good news, Black Panther fans! The legendary African Black Leopard, or Black Panther, as the locals call it, has been a zoological enigma for the past hundred years or so. Although researchers confirmed the fabled creature’s existence with a photograph from 1909 Ethiopia, the creature had never been caught on film. Although pictures were captured in 2013 and in 2018, this is the first time it’s been caught on a high-quality trap camera set up in a conservancy for this purpose. Perhaps to give it’s title movie some extra buzz this Oscar season, the mythical creature made a once-in-a-generation appearance on Wednesday.

Nick Pilfold, a global Conservation scientist captured the footage after months of watching and waiting with a team of patient biologists. The team pulled out all the stops tracking the creature, using remote cameras in order to monitor the leopard population near a conservancy area in Laikipia County. Last year they heard rumors of the mysterious creature, and increased their vigilance accordingly.

“We intensified our camera placement in the area the reports were being made,” Said Pilfold “Within a few months, we were rewarded with multiple observations on our cameras.” The source of the creature’s dark coat of fur is melanism, a genetic mutation which causes an over-production of pigment. Think of it like albinism in reverse. Kenyan conservationist Paula Kahumbu said there have been many unconfirmed sightings of black leopards, but this is the first time one has been proven.

“I’ve spoken to a couple of safari guides who have seen black leopards in the Aberdares, one of them in the late 80s,” said Kahumbu “Despite many challenges in the sector, Kenya’s wildlife continues to awe and inspire the world. … I hope that this rare find persuades the authorities that we must balance Conservation with development to protect our spectacular and mysterious species.”

For other, the experience was something more sublime. Photographer Will Burrard-Lucas, who captured photos of the creature, expressed his joy at fulfilling his longtime dream of photographing the black panther.

“For me, no animal is shrouded in more mystery, no animal more elusive, and no animal more beautiful,” he posted on his blog. “For many years, they remained the stuff of dreams and of farfetched stories told around the campfire at night. Nobody I knew had ever seen one in the wild and I never thought that I would either.”

This is cause for some serious celebration. Unlike the king of Wakanda, life can be a struggle for these real-life black panthers. These majestic cats face poaching, trophy hunting from bored, wealthy psychopaths, and habitat loss from Climate change and urbanization. News like this shows how splendid nature can be, and we hope that proof of their beauty and existence does not make them more vulnerable. Those of us who genuinely love and respect animals always worry that a rare sighting like this might inspire bad intentions in individuals that might want to hurt them, but our hope is that people will let these majestic creatures live in peace.

Are you interested in Animal rights? Check out Ridiculous Film Trailer Shows Animal Captivity in a “Positive” Light For more awesome Animal, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, don’t forget to subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter!