Lalitpur (Nepal) [Nepal], November 14 (HBTV): Nepal’s Central Zoo has welcomed a rare new attraction—a female black panther, popularly known as the ‘Ghost of the Forest’—drawing excited visitors of all ages from the moment it was placed on public display.
Rescued from Illam district in eastern Nepal on September 2, the melanistic leopard was first showcased on Wednesday after weeks of observation and care.
‘We kept it on display from 12 November. After rescuing it, we kept it in quarantine for some time. As there were no serious injuries, general medication was given, and we studied its food preference. As things became normal, we shifted it to the exhibit, which has been built for it and is spacious as well,’ Ashok Subedi, Senior Curator at the Central Zoo, told ANI.
Despite its striking appearance, the black panther is not a separate species. It is a common leopard exhibiting melanism—a rare genetic mutation that results in excess melanin, making its coat look entirely black as its spots blend into the dark fur. Such leopards are extremely rare in the wild.
‘It is a three-year-old female black panther. We have rescued it from Illam district. It is not the common type of leopard that we usually get to see. Recently we also had rescued a common leopard from the Swiss Embassy in Kathmandu. After a long gap, this black panther has been brought to the central zoo,’ Subedi said.
The Central Zoo previously housed a melanistic leopard rescued in May 1996 from Okharpauwa, Nuwakot, though that animal died less than two weeks later. Its preserved taxidermy remains on display in Kathmandu.
The arrival of the new black panther marks the first such appearance in nearly 30 years. Visitors have already expressed excitement at its presence.
‘This is the first time that I am seeing something, this species of cat, and I feel that it is the most mesmerising thing that I have ever witnessed. I was really hoping to see something like this, the black panther in the zoo. I was really captivated and it blew my mind actually,’ said visitor Nischal Raj Gautam.
Leopards are occasionally seen across various locations in the Kathmandu Valley, which is ringed by forested hills that provide habitat for diverse wildlife. A 2024 study by the Central Department of Zoology documented five confirmed sightings of melanistic leopards near the valley.
Researchers say more focused studies are needed, not only to document the presence of these rare predators but also to guide conservation strategies for apex species navigating increasingly fragmented landscapes.
(ANI)