In a rare and thrilling sighting, a pair of elusive black leopards was captured on camera in the Lendezari-Mogarkasa conservation area spanning Bhandara and Gondia districts of eastern Maharashtra on Tuesday. The sighting, which was documented by wildlife photographer Shravan Faye, has gone viral on social media and sparked a wave of excitement among wildlife lovers across the region.
The majestic animals were spotted in the Mogarkasa reserve forest near Lendezari, an area situated along the border of Nagpur and Bhandara districts. A few weeks ago, trap cameras installed in the area recorded footage of a single black leopard. However, this marks the first confirmed visual record of a pair.
Speaking to Lokmat Times, Shravan Faye said, "As soon as I received information about their movement, I rushed to the spot and was fortunate enough to capture this rare sighting on my camera." Though often mistaken for a separate species, black panthers are not a distinct kind of leopard. The phenomenon is the result of melanism, a condition caused by excess dark pigmentation in the skin. While their coats appear entirely black from a distance, closer inspection reveals the usual rosette patterns of regular leopards.
Video: Black Leopard Spotted in Bhandara Forest
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Although Maharashtra has a healthy population of Indian leopards, sightings of melanistic ones are extremely rare. Wildlife enthusiast Pravin Karemore from Eco Escort Group highlighted the eco-logical significance of this sighting. "Black leopards have pre-viously been seen in Nagzira-Navegaon, Tadoba, and Pench reserves. Sadly, a melanistic leopard seen near Nagzira earlier was killed by locals. The presence of a pair in Lendezari-Mogarkasa is a promising sign for the region's biodiversity," Karemore said.
Local wildlife researchers are currently monitoring the movements of this rare pair in the area, hoping to gather more insights into their behaviour and habitat use. Forest officials remain cautiously optimistic. Still, wildlife experts say that the presence of these big cats in the functional Lende-zari-Mogarkasa corridor underscores the region's growing ecological importance and stresses the need for continued conservation efforts to protect such fragile wildlife treasures.
Pair Was Seen Near Bhandara 4 Years Ago
It is worth mentioning that a pair of black leopards was earlier seen on July 5, 2021 in the forest area adjoining the border of Bhandara district and falling under Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve.