Black panther spotted in Maha tiger reserve, IFS officer says 'Bagheera from jungle book'

IFS officer Praveen Kaswan shared an image of a black panther, or melanistic leopard, from Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. The animal appears black due to melanism, a genetic mutation causing excess pigmentation. It is a variant of the common leopard (Panthera pardus), listed as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN. "Bagheera, straight from the jungle book," Kaswan said.