Into the Shadows Rare Encounter with a Black Panther in the Wild
A Glimpse of the Ghostly – Face to Face with a Rare Black Panther
Deep in the forests of Karnataka, wildlife photographer Santhosh George had just about given up hope of a sighting when suddenly, shadows stirred. Emerging silently from the dense undergrowth, a jet black silhouette appeared that made his heart skip – it was an elusive black panther.
Also known as a melanistic leopard, this individual exhibited a unique genetic trait resulting in all-dark coloring. Thought to number less than 300 globally, they are masters of staying hidden. But on this day, curiosity overcame concealment and the panther approached to within 20 feet.
Through his lens, George was granted a front-row view of this ghost of the jungle otherwise only glimpsed by fortunate travelers. Sleek muscles rippled beneath its inky coat as amber eyes sized him up, taking full advantage of camouflage within the dark recesses of nighttime woods.
Just as quickly as it came, the panther merged back into the void of foliage from whence it came. For George, getting to see nature’s perfect predator up close will forever remain the highlight of his career. His memories and photos stand as a reminder of the magic still unfolding where man meets wilderness.
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