PREVIEW

A black leopard (panther) is seen inside its enclosure at the Central Zoo in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, on November 13, 2025. The female leopard was rescued from Ilam District in eastern Nepal and brought to the zoo in September 2025. After being under veterinary care, the leopard has now been made visible to the public. A black leopard is not a separate species but a common leopard with a genetic mutation called melanism, which results in excess black pigmentation.