Image at Laikipia Wilderness Camp in Kenya capured using Camtraptions Camera Trap by Will Burrard-Lucas
According to National Geographic, biologist Nick Pilfold captured the rarest of big cats in a camera trap set up in Loisaba Conservancy after a tip that a "panther " had been seen several times in that area.
While albinism causes whiteness due to a lack of pigmentation, the genetic variation melanism results in an excess of dark pigmentation.
What happened: Photographer Will Burrard-Lucas released extremely rare images that he captured in Africa of the black leopard, known as a black panther in Africa and Asia, walking around at night.
The black leopard is also referred to as a black panther.
Photographer Will Burrard-Lucas couldn't have been luckier when a big black cat crossed his path while snapping wildlife in Kenya last month.
Black leopards are usually associated with dense forests where their dark colouration is thought to help them hide in the shadows. His team of biologists had placed remote wildlife cameras to track the leopard population near Loisaba Conservancy in Laikipia County past year when they heard unconfirmed reports of a possible black leopard sighting.
Image copyright Burrard-Lucas Photography Image caption Dad?
A black leopard lounging at the The Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve.
The wildlife snapper took the unusual images using a Camtraptions Camera Trap - a camera which has a motion sensor to detect when animals are there.
"We had always heard about black leopards living in this region, but the stories were absent of high quality footage that could confirm their existence", said Nicholas Pilfold PhD, lead researcher for a leopard conservation program in Laikipia County.
The Brit said he couldn't believe it when he returned to one of the traps one day and saw a black leopard staring back at the camera lens.
Will has left his cameras at the park in Kenya and is flying back in a few weeks to see what else they've picked up - but time to get more pictures is running out.
The scientist at San Diego Zoo Global added: "This is what Will's photos and the videos on our remote cameras now prove, and are exceptionally rare in their detail and insight".
While there have been reports of sightings of black leopards the last confirmed observation was in Ethiopia more than a century ago, he said.
"Coincidentally, our observations are very close to where the fantasy Marvel comic country of Wakanda is suggested to be located", he said.
You don't need two black leopards to make one, but both parents need to carry the recessive gene for melanism.
"A black panther is basically a melanistic big cat".
Recommended News
-
13 February 2019Post-Brexit Britain ready to use "hard power"
The HMS Queen Elizabeth , Britain's largest warship, is slated to head to the Pacific region, U.K. The defence secretary won an extra £1.8bn for defence in the last budget.
13 February 2019Nicki Minaj Joins Ariana Grande In Calling Out Grammys Producer
Nicki Minaj says she's been 'bullied into staying quiet for 7 years out of fear'. "Summer Tour dates dropping soon". Minaj wasn't even up for a Grammy, but BET dredged up past tensions between the two rappers anyway with its tweet .
13 February 2019Mom urges parents to vaccinate kids after measles outbreak
Experts believe that this is one reason why anti-vaccination hot spots like Clark County , Washington have popped up. Since the beginning of January, at least 55 children below the age of four have died because of measles in Manila. -
13 February 2019Weed Smoker Finds Tiger in Abandoned Texas House
Some tigers are smuggled into the USA from Mexico, and there are small pockets of breeding facilities across the country. A caged, overweight female tiger was found abandoned in a Houston home on Monday, officials said.
13 February 2019Jennifer Lopez Passionately Rejects Grammy Motown Backlash
We were The Temptations and we [would] just sing with her and I feel it's a dream come true". " Motown was music for everybody".
13 February 2019Stokes, Buttler Half-Centuries Establish England's Dominance on Day 1
He said: "Nothing has been reported to me but if a comment was made we'll review it & if it was untoward we'll be addressing it". The charge, which was laid by match umpires, will now be dealt with by Match Referee Jeff Crowe. -
13 February 2019Gmail is Rolling Out Neat Right-Click Features to G Suite Customers
That's a pretty paltry selection considering how feature-packed the menus are in other web apps like Google Drive and Calendar. Google is expanding its right-click mail management menu to enable more quick access options for both Windows and Mac users.
12 February 2019Wild invasion: Polar bear caught on CCTV walking into Russian apartment block
With rising temperatures increasingly destroying the bears' Arctic habitats, interactions with humans are becoming more common . Of course, since it's Russian Federation we're talking about, it's not just the bears who've become comfortable.12 February 2019World No.1 Osaka announces shock split from coach
The 21-year-old Osaka beat Petra Kvitova in the Australian Open final on January 26, adding to her championship at the U.S. He is a former hitting partner of Grand Slam champions Serena Williams , Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki . -
13 February 2019
Scott Morrison's Response To The Medivac Bill Is Reopening Christmas Island
The Prime Minister was repeatedly asked to say the fast-tracked transfers would not apply to new boat arrivals. The new push has come under fire from immigration minister David Coleman.
13 February 2019The Division 2 Open Beta Coming Soon
However, it seems that a much more widespread open beta is on the horizon. This happened with Anthem and it will also happen with The Division 2 .
13 February 2019Trump might not be a free man in 2020, says Warren
Warren has chose to ignore what she called Trump's "every day efforts to divide and distract", a campaign spokesperson told CNN. She's apologised for claiming Native American identity on multiple occasions early in her career. "Yeah.
