Rare Black Leopard Sighted in Kenya

LAIKIPIA, KENYA - MARCH 18: A rare melanistic leopard or "black panther" is seen in Laikipia, Kenya on March 18, 2023. The elusive cat, a two-year-old female christened "Giza" by the local trackers, first appeared in the area around the Ewaso Narok river 18 months ago. She was delivered in a litter of two cubs to a more usual spotted leopard. Melanism is the congenital excess of melanin resulting in dark skin pigment which occurs in animals not humans and is the rarer opposite of albinism. Over the last year the cat has become more accustomed to people and now tolerates the occasional vehicle following her through her territory. Over many nights of observation, photographer Chris Brunskill and his specialist team of local trackers led by ranger Joseph Mugambi, began to build up an understanding of the cat's movements and repeatedly watched her cross the river at sunset to begin hunting before she returned a few hours later, often carrying her prey following a successful predation. Her tolerance of people extended to the use of a spotlight to track her movements and resulted in many incredible encounters for Brunskill and his team. They observed her hunting on multiple evenings in close proximity to the Laikipia Wilderness Camp where they were based. Brunskill commented "Getting the opportunity to track and photograph a black leopard at close range, alone in the wilds of Laikipia, was both an incredible thrill and an extraordinary privilege" Such is her rarity "Giza" is thought to be the first black leopard ever to have been photographed, without the use of camera traps, on the African continent. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images)