Black panther cub spotted in Bhadra Tiger Reserve

The visitors to the Bhadra Tiger Reserve have a special attraction to look for. For the last two months, a black panther cub has been spotted in Lakkavalli range.

Aravind Rammurthy, a wildlife photographer, spotted the animal in June. He saw three leopard cubs, of which one was melanistic. “It was a big surprise for me and my friends who accompanied me on the safari. I clicked some photos and shot videos. The cubs are normally shy. They came out with their mother,” said Aravind Ramamurthy.

He had spotted a black panther in Kabini earlier. And, for the first time, he spotted the melanistic leopard in Bhadra Tiger Reserve.

Pulkit Meena, Deputy Conservator of Forests of Bhadra Wildlife, told The Hindu that the staff members had been spotting the cub for the last two months.

The officers said that there is an adult black panther in the tiger reserve. However, this is the new addition.

Santhosh Surimatt, Range Forest Officer of Lakkavalli Range, said that a black panther was spotted earlier too in the tiger reserve. “An adult black panther had been spotted earlier. Now the cub is a new entry. We are ensuring the territory of the family is not disturbed,” he added.