• Light/Dark

Ultra-rare black leopard is photographed for the first time in 100 years in Africa

JonnyDBrit

JonnyDBrit

God and Anime
Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,220
Edit:
Actual credit evidently belongs to one Letoluai Ambrose

https://naloolo.com/2019/02/14/how-...rior-captured-images-of-kenyas-black-leopard/

"The remote camera that I helped set up started capturing images of the black leopard from January 2018. I have many images and videos of the animal," Letoluai Ambrose, a Research Assistant with Sandiego Zoo Global told me. He seemed perturbed by the interest that the leopard has received from all over the world since last week.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

During his interaction with the community, he heard about the presence of black leopards.

"At first I did not believe what they were telling me since historically we have been hearing such stories from old people," he said.

At a later date, an elder asked him "Why don't you capture the big black one in Lorrok area with your cameras?" He also confirmed with the owner of Lorrok ranch about the sighting.

He wrote an email to his boss and fellow scientist, Nicholas Pinfold, about the presence of the black leopard and they agreed to place trap cameras with hope of capturing images.

The activities of the black leopard started appearing in the cameras and a paper about its presence was published here.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

---------------------------------------

https://www./travel/travel_news/art...opard-photographed-time-100-YEARS-Africa.html

Daily Mail, but not their usual fare.

https://i./1s/2019/02/12/14/9722448-6695289-image-a-11_1549981526401.jpg

The creature - which almost has a mythical status - was captured by British wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas, 35, while it was prowling around the plains of Kenya in the dead of night with a full moon looming above.

This is the first time that one has been caught on camera 'properly' in Africa for 100 years.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Its wide eyes can be seen looking eagerly for prey, while leopard-like spots can vaguely be seen on its sooty coat, which is the result of melanism.

This genetic variation, the opposite of albinism, results in an excess of dark pigmentation.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

After learning that several had been spotted in the Laikipia area of Kenya - the only area thought to have black leopards in all of Africa - he decided to investigate further and set up an expedition this January.

Working in collaboration with biologists from San Diego Zoo in the area, Burrard-Lucas went about installing camera traps in a well-protected area where the black leopard was rumoured to frequent.

He used specialist equipment including wireless motion sensors, high-quality DSLR cameras and two to three flashes.

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.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

https://i./1s/2019/02/12/14/9722462-6695289-image-a-15_1549981562599.jpg

https://i./1s/2019/02/12/14/9722458-6695289-image-a-20_1549981617733.jpg
 
Last edited:
skipgo

skipgo

Member
Dec 28, 2018
2,568
Wow that's a beautiful creature. Last photo looks amazing.
Hopefully this being in the news doesn't make assholes flock there to hunt it.
 
Ravelle

Ravelle

Member
Oct 31, 2017
18,078
The first photo looks like he has been photoshopped on top of another photo, his stance and his front paws look so weird like he's hovering above ground a couple of inches.

Second photo is weird too, what's that transparent stuff in front of him coming out of the rocks?
 
Christian

Christian

Member
Oct 25, 2017
9,637
I understand that the liver of a rare black jaguar can cure my erectile dysfunction! I should go and poach this once-in-a-lifetime animal while I still can!

<3 you, Giant version of cat I have at home. Please stay safe.
 
Platy

Platy

Member
Oct 25, 2017
28,016
Brazil
Awesome pics !

Was a little "wtf" at the title because we have lots of those here in zoos and things like that

cUkxmWz.jpg


Till I understood that it was on nature and IN AFRICA
 
BLEEN

BLEEN

Member
Oct 27, 2017
22,016
Ravelle said:
The first photo looks like he has been photoshopped on top of another photo, his stance and his front paws look so weird like he's hovering above ground a couple of inches.

Second photo is weird too, what's that transparent stuff in front of him coming out of the rocks?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Layering and blending
 
OP
OP
JonnyDBrit

JonnyDBrit

God and Anime
Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,220
Ravelle said:
The first photo looks like he has been photoshopped on top of another photo, his stance and his front paws look so weird like he's hovering above ground a couple of inches.

Second photo is weird too, what's that transparent stuff in front of him coming out of the rocks?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

On the first, you can actually see the little outcrop the front paws are standing on; as mentioned above, the second might be a blend of multiple photos.

But yeah, apparently black leopards are more common (if still rather rare) in non-African populations, hence this particular batch being so surprising.
 
AlexFlame116

AlexFlame116

Prophet of Truth - One Winged Slayer
Member
Nov 17, 2017
23,213
Utah
That is so cool! I love seeing rare sights like this. Especially when it comes to animals.

They are just beautiful.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.