Beautiful photos were taken of a rare black panther in Laikipia, Kenya.
It is the first creature to be photographed without a camera trap in Africa.
The elusive cat, a two-year-old female nicknamed Giza by local trackers, was first spotted in the Ewaso Narok River area 18 months ago. She was given to a more common spotted leopard in a litter of two cubs.
During many nights of sightings, photographer Chris Brunskill and his specialized team of local trackers, led by ranger Joseph Mugambi, began to gain insight into the cat’s movements and on several occasions saw it cross the river at sunset to watch the hunt began before they returned. several hours later, often with their prey.
Brunskill said: “Having the opportunity to track and photograph a black leopard up close alone in the Laikipia Wilderness was both an incredible thrill and an extraordinary privilege.”
Beautiful photos were taken of a rare black panther in Laikipia, Kenya
This is the first black panther to be photographed without a camera trap in Africa
There was only one confirmed sighting of the animal in Africa until 2019, when a team of biologists took photos of the big cat in Kenya.
Before 2019, the only confirmed sighting of a black panther in Africa was in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, in 1909.
The elusive cat captured in the 2023 photos, a two-year-old female named Giza named by local trackers, first appeared in the Ewaso Narok River area 18 months ago
Giza was given to a more common spotted leopard in a litter of two cubs
Over the past year the cat has become more accustomed to people and is now tolerant of the occasional vehicle that follows it around its territory
Over many nights of sightings, photographer Chris Brunskill and his specialized team of local trackers, led by ranger Joseph Mugambi, began to develop an understanding of the cat’s movements, repeatedly observing it cross the river at sunset to hunt. start. hours later. later often with their prey
Giza’s tolerance of humans extended to using a spotlight to track their movements and led to many incredible encounters for Brunskill and his team
Brunskill and his team observed them several nights hunting near the Laikipia Wilderness Camp where they were based.
Brunskill said: “Having the opportunity to track and photograph a black leopard up close, alone in the wilderness of Laikipia, was both an incredible thrill and an extraordinary privilege.”
Nicholas Pilfold, a biologist at the San Diego Institute, said: “Black panthers are unusual, only about 11 percent of leopards worldwide are black. But black panthers in Africa are extremely rare.
The leopard, scientific name Panthera pardus, is more commonly found with black fur in the more tropical and wetter conditions of Southeast Asia
Will Burrard-Lucas, who photographed a black panther in Kenya in 2019, said: “To me, no animal is more mysterious, no animal more elusive and no animal more beautiful.”
The term “black panther” broadly refers to any melanistic leopard, jaguar or any other large cat
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Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
