WhatsNew2Day – Latest News And Breaking Headlines
Extremely rare black leopard becomes ‘first black panther ever filmed in Africa without a camera trap’ in unique close-up encounter in Kenya
Black panther photos were taken in Laikipia, Kenya
The two-year-old woman, who was named Giza by local trackers, was first seen in the area 18 months ago.
advertisement
<!–
<!–
<!– <!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
Stunning footage of a rare black panther has emerged in Laikipia, Kenya.
They are the first creatures to be filmed in Africa without a camera trap.
The elusive cat, a two-year-old female named Giza by local trackers, was first seen in the area around the Ewasu Narok River 18 months ago. She was delivered in a litter of two cubs to the more common spotted leopard.
Over several nights of observation, photographer Chris Brunskell and his dedicated team of local trackers, led by ranger Joseph Mugambi, began to build an understanding of the cat’s movements and on several occasions watched it cross the river at sunset to start hunting before returning a few hours later, often carrying its prey.
“Having the opportunity to track and photograph a black leopard at close range, alone in the wilds of Laikipia, was an amazing thrill and an extraordinary privilege,” said Bronskill.
Stunning footage of a rare black panther has emerged in Laikipia, Kenya
It is the first photo ever shot in Africa without a camera trap
Until 2019, there was only one confirmed sighting of the creature in Africa, when a team of biologists captured the big cats in Kenya.
Prior to 2019, the only confirmed sighting of a black leopard in Africa was in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, in 1909.
The elusive cat, a two-year-old female who was named Giza by local trackers, first appeared in the area around the Ewasu Narok River 18 months ago.
Giza was delivered in a litter of two cubs to the more common spotted leopard
Over the past year the cat has become more accustomed to people and now tolerates occasional vehicles following her across her territory
Over several nights of observation, photographer Chris Brunskell and his dedicated team of local trackers led by ranger Joseph Mugambi began to build an understanding of the cat’s movements and watched repeatedly as it crossed the river at sunset to start hunting before returning a few hours later, often carrying its prey.
Giza’s tolerance of people extended to using a searchlight to track their movements and resulted in several startling encounters for Branskill and his team.
Brunskill and his team observed her hunting on multiple evenings in the vicinity of the Laikipia Wilderness camp where they were staying.
“Having the opportunity to track and photograph a black panther at close range, alone in the wilds of Laikipia, was an amazing thrill and an extraordinary privilege,” said Brunskill.
“Black panthers are uncommon, and only about 11 percent of tigers globally are black,” said Nicholas Pilfold, a biologist at the San Diego Institute. Black panthers in Africa are extremely rare.
The leopard, scientific name Panthera pardus, is frequently found with a black coat in the tropical and humid conditions of Southeast Asia.
“For me, there is no animal more mysterious, no animal more elusive, no animal more beautiful,” said Will Burrard-Lucas, who filmed a black leopard in 2019 in Kenya.
Cheetahs fall under the endangered category on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species
The term “black panther” broadly refers to any tiger, jaguar, or other large cat
There have been many unconfirmed sightings of black leopards in Africa, but confirmed sightings are extremely rare
Extremely Rare Black Panther Becomes ‘Ever Filmed in Africa Without a Camera Trap’