On a trip to spot Malabar Pied Hornbills, ace wildlife photographer Arvind Ramamurthy chanced upon something far more rare: a black panther cub out on a stroll with its mom and siblings, inside the lesser-known Bhadra Tiger Reserve in the Western Ghats

When most wildlife enthusiasts think of black panthers in India, Kabini immediately comes to mind. But this year, an extraordinary sighting brings the spotlight to Bhadra Tiger Reserve in Karnataka. Renowned wildlife photographer Arvind Ramamurthy captured a rare moment: a leopard family with a black panther cub, hidden among its siblings, moving gracefully across the backwaters of Bhadra.

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Photographer Captures Rare Glimpse of Black Panther Cub with Leopard Mother in Indian Tiger Reserve

Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh – In a remarkable and rare sighting, wildlife photographer Monu Dubey has captured stunning images and video of a black panther cub, affectionately named Bagheera, alongside its leopard mother in the Pench Tiger Reserve. The photographs and footage, which have since gone viral, offer an intimate look at this unusual pairing in the wild.

The sighting took place near the Turia gate of the Pench Tiger Reserve, a renowned sanctuary that straddles the states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.[1][2] The cub, a melanistic variant of the leopard, was seen drinking water from a pond before rejoining its mother.[1][3] Black panthers are not a distinct species but rather leopards with a genetic mutation that results in a surplus of black pigment, making them incredibly elusive and a rare sight.[1][2]

The Pench Tiger Reserve’s official Instagram account shared a photograph taken by Dubey, celebrating the extraordinary moment.[1][2] The post highlighted the significance of the sighting, stating, “This rare duo spotted in Pench Tiger Reserve is a testament to the diverse and vibrant wildlife thriving in our forests.”[2][3]

According to Rajneesh Singh, the deputy director of Pench Tiger Reserve, the cub was first spotted in the Turia zone about three months prior to this widely publicized sighting and has been seen more frequently as it has grown.[4] The cub is the offspring of a male black panther and a normal-colored female leopard.[4]

The Pench Tiger Reserve is famously believed to be the setting that inspired Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book,” making this real-life Bagheera’s appearance all the more captivating for wildlife enthusiasts.

Witness the stunning beauty of nature with this incredible photo of a black panther alongside her leopard mother. Black panthers, a melanistic variant of leopards, are incredibly rare and elusive. Their unique black coats result from a genetic mutation, giving them a striking and mysterious appearance”, a post by PTR on social media said. The black panther cub has been identified as Bagheera, the offspring of a male black panther and normal female leopard