Una especie rara de leopardo negro es avistada en Sudáfrica

Rare Sighting of Wild Black Leopard in South Africa

EXCLUSIVE! #BlackLeopard Sighting.. Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation reveals NEW, extremely RARE VIDEO footage of what appears to be a free-roaming, wild #BlackLeopard. It's the stuff that urban legends and folklore get built around. A phantom, an illusion, a shadow so rare that most people believe they don't actually exist. Fewer than 35 sightings of wild black leopards have ever been scientifically documented in South Africa in over half a century; and clear pictures or video evidence are virtually non-existent - most people having spotted these elusive phantoms crossing a road or disappearing into the bush without the chance to take a picture. Yet, on Monday morning, the 24th of February 2020, at 07h00, this footage was captured by a member of the public with their phone, on their way to work. It is the first such footage ever, and what makes it really special, is that this is in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The exact location will not be revealed in order to protect this amazing animal. It is not the first time that a black leopard was spotted in the area. Three years ago, it made a brief appearance, and was seen by some children playing in the area, but no photos were taken and the leopard disappeared as suddenly as it arrived. Black Leopards are also called Melanistic Leopards, and are not a seperate or subspecies of the normal leopard, Panthera pardus. They merely possess a rare gene that affects their colouring, and produces the glorious, gorgeous black fur. Their spots are still faintly visible in clear close-up pictures. Quite a number of black leopards are held and bred in captivity, but their wild brothers and sisters are the ones who need our help and protection. After consultation with the relevant National Carnivore Specialist and the Department of Nature Conservation (the Green Scorpions), the decision was taken to monitor the situation with as little human interference as possible. Should the leopard be seen again, the possibility of collaring, and or relocating the animal to a less populated area will be considered. We strategically placed 3 state-of-the-art trail cameras and are monitoring the area on an ongoing basis. The idea is to make sure that the leopard has left the area, and is not in danger of any conflict with humans from the nearby residential areas. For a change, we are hoping NOT to capture an image of the leopard, however, if we do, we will take any and all measures needed to ensure its safety. Thank you to all our supporters who have made it possible for us to obtain the equipment needed to help keep this Leopard safe and will keep you updated with regards to any progess. ----------------------------------------------------------- UPDATE: March 3rd - After almost a week of monitoring the area with camera traps, there has been no sighting or pictures of the animal. We are hopeful that if it was indeed a leopard, it has returned to a less populated area in the wild. We did however need to attempt to verify it for the sake of the animals safety. No sighting since, is a positive outcome. ---------------------------------------------------------- Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation is a registered non-profit organisation in South Africa, dedicated to helping wildlife most in need, and rely completely on public support to help carry out our important work in the field. To contribute towards our efforts, you can go to: https://www.paypal.me/wildheartwildlife or visit us at: https://www.wildheartwildlifefoundation.org #WHWF #EthicalConservation 'The Future of Wildlife is in Our Hands' #RescueRelocateRelease #WildAndFree

Posted by Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation on Sunday, March 1, 2020