Rare black leopard captured on film in India

Big cat is thought to be five years old

Tourists caught a rare black leopard on video during a trip to a nature reserve in India, it has been reported.

The jet-black animal is seen crossing a tarmac road in the Tadoba-Andhari reserve – sending a bird scrambling out of its way.

Indian media cited forest officials as saying the leopard is thought to be about five years old, and had previously been seen in May last year.

Black leopards are also known as panthers. Their dark fur is a result of melanism.

The sighting comes just weeks after a similar animal was spotted in Kenya, a much rarer event given the vanishingly small numbers thought to be living on the African continent.

British wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas used a series of camera traps to capture images of the elusive leopard.

“I couldn’t believe it and it took a few days before it sank in that I had achieved my dream,” he said in February.