Latest news with #Pantherapardus
Muscat Daily
28-07-2025
- General
- Muscat Daily
Oman's leopard breeding programme records breakthrough
Muscat – The Wild Mammal Breeding Centre under Royal Court Affairs has reported success in breeding Arabian leopards, marking renewed efforts to prevent the extinction of the region's most threatened big cat. A female leopard named Al Muzn, now around two and a half years old, is among the most prominent offspring raised at the centre. She remains in good health under the close care of veterinary specialists. The facility has also recently bred two more cubs, a male and a female, both over three months old, receiving intensive care during their early weeks – a critical period when leopard mothers sometimes reject their young. Located in Muscat, the centre is affiliated to Directorate General of Veterinary Services and houses leopards native to Jabal Samhan in Dhofar. The long-term objective is to breed these animals in captivity and eventually release them into the wild, once they demonstrate the ability to survive independently. Efforts at the facility are supported through regional cooperation and knowledge-sharing with other breeding programmes. These include partnerships with the Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife in Sharjah. The Arabian leopard ( Panthera pardus nimr ) is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. Once found across both northern and southern Oman, its current range is limited to the Dhofar Mountains, where fewer than 50 individuals remain. Captive breeding of the species in Oman began in 1985, using four leopards captured in Jabal Samhan. The first cub was born in captivity in 1989. Over the next eight years, ten cubs were bred successfully, with the last birth recorded in February 1997. The programme gained fresh momentum in 2015 with the introduction of a male leopard from Yemen. In 2022, a female from the Sharjah centre was introduced to the Muscat facility. On February 15, 2023 she gave birth to a female cub – the first leopard born at the centre in 26 years. Officials believe the birth of the cub marks an important step towards preserving the Arabian leopard. As the cub's father is a wild-caught leopard, her genetic makeup could help diversify the limited captive population across the region. The centre also breeds and cares for other endangered native species, including the Arabian gazelle and Arabian tahr, as part of Oman's broader wildlife conservation efforts.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Rare black panther spotted with leopard pals in Nilgiris sparks ‘Jungle Book' nostalgia online: ‘Bagheera is looking for Sher Khan'
In a magical moment captured in Nilgiris, a black panther was spotted strolling with two leopards, stunning wildlife lovers and evoking Jungle Book memories. Shared by IFS officer Parveen Kaswan, the video drew emotional reactions online, with users quipping, 'They're looking for Sher Khan!' Experts stress that such rare sightings underline the urgency of leopard conservation. A rare video from Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris has gone viral, showing a black panther—often likened to Bagheera from The Jungle Book—walking alongside two spotted leopards. Shared by IFS officer Parveen Kaswan, the sighting left netizens amazed, sparking nostalgia and wonder. (Screenshots: X/ @ParveenKaswan ) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A Scene Rarer Than Fiction Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads 'They're Looking for Sher Khan!' The Panther's Perilous Path In the shadowed forests of the Nilgiris, a scene straight out of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book came alive—leaving wildlife lovers spellbound and the internet abuzz with emotion and awe. A majestic black panther, reminiscent of the beloved Bagheera, was caught on camera taking a moonlit stroll alongside two spotted leopards , evoking both wonder and 29-second clip was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Indian Forest Service officer Parveen Kaswan, who aptly captioned it, 'Bagheera and other friends for a night walk on the roads of Nilgiris. What a rare thing.' Within hours, the video began doing the rounds on social media, drawing parallels with the animated world of Mowgli and his jungle the wild, leopards are solitary by nature. Catching even one on camera is often a matter of luck, patience, and persistence. But this brief sighting—showing not one, but three leopards walking together, one of them melanistic—is a wildlife black panther, known scientifically as a melanistic leopard , is not a separate species but a genetic variation of the Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca). As IFS officer Kaswan explained in a follow-up post, 'These animals appear black due to a genetic condition called melanism, which results in excess dark pigmentation. Despite their dark coats, their characteristic leopard rosettes are often visible under certain lighting conditions.'What makes this particular video stand out is the rare documentation of a melanistic leopard moving in sync with two regular-patterned leopards. Such visual harmony among these elusive cats in the same frame, and in the open, is almost unheard many netizens, the video was more than just a wildlife moment—it stirred up memories from childhood. One user commented, 'I remember Baghira from Mowgli. Such a cute character.' Another wrote with a mix of humour and imagination, 'They are looking for Sher Khan.' Others were in awe of the animal's natural grace, calling it the 'ultimate nocturnal predator.'In a digital world often saturated with chaos, this fleeting glimpse into the tranquil, untamed wild offered a moment of pure connection—between nature, memory, and the internet marvelled, Kaswan didn't let the moment pass without a reminder of the growing threats to these magnificent creatures. 'Conservation efforts are vital for their survival,' he noted. 'They face threats like habitat loss and poaching.'The Indian leopard, agile and fiercely adaptable, has often been a silent survivor amidst urban expansion and shrinking forests. Capable of leaping over 6 meters, running at speeds over 58 km/h, and even swimming when necessary, it is the smallest of the four 'big cats' under the Panthera genus—yet arguably the most with viral moments like this one, the silent grace of these animals may no longer remain unseen. Perhaps, like Kipling's stories, this moment too can inspire a deeper sense of wonder and responsibility toward our shared wild heritage.
NDTV
18-07-2025
- Science
- NDTV
"Bagheera, Friends On Night Walk": Black Panther, Leopards Stroll On Tamil Nadu Road
A black panther (melanistic leopard) was seen wandering alongside two typically coloured leopards in a verdant area of the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu. It was a rare sight for wildlife enthusiasts and forest officials. Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Parveen Kaswan shared the rare footage on X (formerly Twitter), and wrote, "Bagheera (black panther) and other friends for night walk on the roads of Nilgiris. What a rare thing." Bagheera (black panther) and other friends for night walk on the roads of Nilgiris. What a rare thing. — Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) July 18, 2025 In the clip, two spotted leopards are seen wandering beside the melanistic leopard, who is noticeably darker. It is very unusual for melanistic and non-melanistic species to wander in such unison. Several social media accounts re-shared the footage, which was believed to have been recorded on July 16 at midnight. "Rare & Remarkable Sighting Black panther along with 2 other leopards spotted in Nilgiris," One wrote. Rare & Remarkable Sighting???? Black panther along with 2 other leopards spotted in Nilgiris. — Kishore Chandran (@tweetKishorec) July 17, 2025 "It seems they are on an important mission," read one comment. It seems they are on important mission ???? — Dr. Rajendra Prasad Settem (@Rajendra_Settem) July 18, 2025 Another said, "The ultimate nocturnal predator!!!! We'll get to see more black leopards in the wild..." The ultimate nocturnal predator!!!! We'll get to see more black leopards in the wild... — I'm Groot !!! (@IM_Groot_82) July 18, 2025 In a subsequent post, Mr Kaswan clarified that black panthers were a melanistic variation of the ordinary leopard (Panthera pardus) and not a distinct species. Melanism is a hereditary disorder that causes excessive dark pigmentation, giving these animals their black appearance. In some lighting situations, their distinctive leopard rosettes can be seen despite their dark coats. Their survival depends on conservation efforts because they are threatened by things like habitat loss and poaching. In India, a black panther is a melanistic variant of the common leopard (Panthera pardus). These animals appear black due to a genetic condition called melanism, which results in excess dark pigmentation. Despite their dark coats, their characteristic leopard rosettes are often… — Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) July 18, 2025 In January, IFS Officer Kaswan had shared another rare sighting of a black panther strolling in the Kurseong forest in West Bengal. He shared a short video of the creature walking through the Kurseong forest on X. "This black Panther from North Bengal. Bagheera of Kurseong. What a beauty," he captioned the post at the time. This black Panther from North Bengal. Bagheera of Kurseong. What a beauty. — Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) January 24, 2025 Mr Kaswan added that the majority of these black panthers lived in the tropical woods of states like Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, and parts of the Northeast. Their sightings are rare and fascinating because they are solitary and elusive. The Nilgiris are a part of the Western Ghats, a hotspot for biodiversity and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Although previous camera-trap studies have shown the existence of melanistic leopards in southern India, sightings are still rare, making the July 16 event significant.
The Star
11-07-2025
- The Star
Appeals Court reinstates Vietnamese man's four-year jail term for possessing leopard parts
PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has reinstated a four-year jail sentence originally imposed by the Sessions Court on a Vietnamese man for keeping 54 parts of a protected leopard species without a special permit. A three-member bench comprising Justices Datuk Hashim Hamzah, Datuk Mohamed Zaini Mazlan and Datuk Noorin Badaruddin allowed the prosecution's appeal to overturn the Temerloh High Court's decision, which had earlier reduced Nguyen Van Tien's jail term to two years. Justice Hashim, who delivered the court's unanimous decision, said that the judiciary takes wildlife-related offences seriously. "Therefore, the sentence imposed by the High Court is set aside, and the four-year jail sentence imposed by the Sessions Court is reinstated, effective from the date of arrest," he said. The fine of RM300,000 in default of 12 months' imprisonment imposed by the High Court remains unchanged. The prosecution had appealed against the High Court's decision to reduce the prison sentence but did not challenge the fine. On Feb 24, 2024, Nguyen, 34, pleaded guilty at the Sessions Court to the charge of keeping parts of a leopard (Panthera pardus), a protected species, without a special permit in the National Park, Pahang at about 12.30pm on Dec 12, 2023. He was charged under Section 68(1)(b) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and sentenced under Section 68(2)(c) of the same law. Nguyen was sentenced to four years' imprisonment and fined RM300,000, in default of four years' jail, effective from the date of his arrest on Dec 12, 2023. In October last year, the High Court reduced the sentence to two years while maintaining the fine in default of 12 months' jail. During proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Aznee Salmie Ahmad argued that the reduced prison sentence would send the wrong message, portraying Malaysia as a lenient jurisdiction for foreign offenders involved in trans-boundary wildlife crimes. She said that Nguyen's actions had not only harmed the environment but also impacted the sovereignty of Malaysian law, thus warranting a stern custodial sentence. Representing himself through an interpreter, Nguyen told the court that he had come to Malaysia in search of work and claimed that he received the leopard meat from other Vietnamese acquaintances to take home, adding that he was unaware of Malaysian laws. He apologised and pleaded for the two-year sentence to be maintained, saying he wished to return to Vietnam. Nguyen also told the court that he is responsible for supporting his elderly parents and young children in Vietnam, noting that his wife is unemployed. – Bernama
The Sun
11-07-2025
- The Sun
Vietnamese man gets 4-year jail term reinstated for leopard parts in Malaysia
PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal today reinstated the four-year imprisonment sentence originally imposed by the Sessions Court on a Vietnamese man for keeping 54 parts of a protected leopard species without a special permit. A three-member bench comprising Justices Datuk Hashim Hamzah, Datuk Mohamed Zaini Mazlan and Datuk Noorin Badaruddin allowed the prosecution's appeal to overturn the Temerloh High Court's decision, which had earlier reduced Nguyen Van Tien's jail term to two years. Justice Hashim, who delivered the court's unanimous decision, said that the judiciary takes wildlife-related offences seriously. 'Therefore, the sentence imposed by the High Court is set aside, and the four-year jail sentence imposed by the Sessions Court is reinstated, effective from the date of arrest,' he said. The fine of RM300,000 in default of 12 months' imprisonment imposed by the High Court remains unchanged. The prosecution had appealed against the High Court's decision to reduce the prison sentence but did not challenge the fine. On Feb 24, 2024, Nguyen, 34, pleaded guilty at the Sessions Court to the charge of keeping parts of a leopard (Panthera pardus), a protected species, without a special permit in the National Park, Pahang, at about 12.30 pm, on Dec 12, 2023. He was charged under Section 68(1)(b) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and sentenced under Section 68 92) (c) of the same law. Nguyen was sentenced to four years' imprisonment and fined RM300,000, in default of four years' jail, effective from the date of his arrest on Dec 12, 2023. In October last year, the High Court reduced the sentence to two years while maintaining the fine in default of 12 months' jail. During today's proceedings, deputy public prosecutor Aznee Salmie Ahmad argued that the reduced prison sentence would send the wrong message, portraying Malaysia as a lenient jurisdiction for foreign offenders involved in transboundary wildlife crimes. She said that Nguyen's actions had not only harmed the environment but also impacted the sovereignty of Malaysian law, thus warranting a stern custodial sentence. Representing himself through an interpreter, Nguyen told the court that he had come to Malaysia in search of work and claimed that he received the leopard meat from other Vietnamese acquaintances to take home, adding that he was unaware of Malaysian laws. He apologised and pleaded for the two-year sentence to be maintained, saying he wished to return to Vietnam. Nguyen also told the court that he is responsible for supporting his elderly parents and young children in Vietnam, noting that his wife is unemployed. - Bernama
