Black leopard spotted in Africa for first time in 100 years

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

They say that black cats bring bad luck, but when Nick Pilfold heard about one lurking around central Kenya, he knew he was onto something special.

The Kenya-based biologist and his team deployed a set of camera traps throughout the bushlands of Loisaba Conservancy in early 2018. It wasn't long before he got what he was looking for: undeniable proof of a super-rare melanistic leopard.

The juvenile female was spotted traveling with a larger, normally colored leopard, presumed to be her mother. (See our exclusive picture of a rare black wildcat seen in Africa.)

The opposite of albinism, melanism is the result of a gene that causes a surplus of pigment in the skin or hair of an animal so that it appears black. Melanistic leopards have been reported in and around Kenya for decades, but scientific confirmation of their existence remains quite rare.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/black-leopard-spotted-in-africa-for-first-time-in-100-years/ar-BBTtTQL?li=BBnbcA1

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Are black leopards spotted?

[Blues Heron]

2. look at the front leg you can see the spots

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

3. Yes

Look at the picture. They're not full black. There's basically different shades of darkness.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. But are they only spotted in Africa, like the headline says?

[pandr32]

5. Hopefully true

It would be wonderful news.
Thanks for something positive today.

[3Hotdogs]

6. I love the eyes.

[OnlinePoker]

7. And now the big game hunters know about it. Sigh. n/t

[Ferrets are Cool]

8. Is anyone here old enough to remember when

a black leopard would be always be shown in the Tarzan episodes?

I hope they make a comeback.

[AJT]

9. Don't tell the drumf boys......they'll be grabbing their hunting gear and heading to Kenya in a

heartbeat.

[packman]

10. Echo your concern

I can see some asshole millionaire writing a $100+k check now to a Kenya Wildlife Group for a license to kill that rarity - head on the wall and all that shit.