A rare black panther was recently spotted inside the Manas National Park has turned the UNESCO World Heritage Site into a major attraction for wildlife enthusiasts and tourists from across the country and abroad.

About black panther

• The black panther is a melanistic variant of the Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca). It is not a separate species.
  • Melanism is a genetic condition causing excess black pigmentation and is extremely rare in the wild, making such sightings scientifically valuable.
• The presence of top predators indicates a healthy prey base, balanced ecosystem, and effective protection measures.

Habitat

• Black panthers share the same habitat as Indian leopards:
  • Tropical evergreen forests
  • Moist deciduous forests
  • Montane forests
  • Grasslands and scrublands
• Prefer dense canopy and low-light environments, which help their dark coat blend with surroundings.
• In Arunachal Pradesh, they thrive in thick, undisturbed forest landscapes with healthy prey availability.

Where Are They Generally Found?

• Black panthers are extremely rare, but have been recorded in:
  • Western Ghats
  • Kabini (Nagarhole Tiger Reserve)
  • Biligiri Ranga Hills
  • Dandeli–Anshi landscape
  • Eastern Ghats
  • Northeast India
  • Pakke Tiger Reserve (Arunachal Pradesh)
  • Manas & Nameri (Assam)
  • Central India
  • Satpura, Pench & Tadoba
  • Southern India
  • Wayanad, Bandipur
  • Kerala–Karnataka forest complexes
• Global distribution includes Africa and Southeast Asia wherever melanistic leopards occur, but India has one of the highest numbers of confirmed sightings.

Threats

• Black panthers face the same threats as leopards—often amplified due to their rarity:
  • Habitat loss due to deforestation and development projects.
  • Fragmentation of forests reduces prey availability.
  • Poaching for skin and body parts.
  • Human–wildlife conflict, especially in fringe villages.
  • Decline in prey population, leading to competition.
  • Genetic bottlenecks due to low numbers in isolated habitats.

Conservation Status

• Leopard (Panthera pardus): Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)
• Listed under the Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (maximum protection)
• Included in CITES Appendix I (strictest trade regulation)
• Protected under Project Tiger landscapes and centrally sponsored Project Leopard initiatives.

Manas National Park

• Declared as a national park in 1990, the Manas National Park is located at Himalayan foothills and is spread over two districts (Chirang, Baksa). 
• It is one of the first reserves included in the tiger reserve network under project tiger in 1973.
• The largest number of protected species of India including tiger, leopard, civet, elephants, buffalo, pygmy hog, golden langoor, Assam roof turtle, and the Bengal florican.
• This park is included as a site of international importance under UNESCO’s world heritage convention in 1988 as well as Biosphere Reserve in 1989.
  • In 1990 the Manas National Park was declared a world heritage site in danger due to heavy poaching and terrorist activities but in 2011 it was removed from this list.
• The Chirang-Ripu Elephant Reserve within Mana was declared in the year 2003.
• The last population of pygmy hogs survives in the wild of Manas and nowhere else in the world.
• The Manas-Beki system is the major river system flowing through the protected area.
• It has the combinations of two biomes i.e. Grassland and Forest.
• It forms a part of the Sub-Himalayan Bhabar Terai formation leading up to the Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests (semi-evergreen).
• The park ranges consist of 
  • Panbari Range (Western)
  • Bansbari Range (Central)
  • Bhuyanpara Range (Eastern)
  • Kuklung Range (1st Addition)

One-Line Wrap

The rare sighting of a Black Panther in Manas National Park underscores the ecological richness of Assam’s protected areas and highlights the importance of conserving large, connected forest ecosystems for apex predators.

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