Bhubaneswar: For the first time in almost two decades, a black panther has been spotted in Odisha and caught on camera too, informed forest officials today. “A mother – cub duo has been spotted by the forest personnel about three to four times in the Hemagiri forest range of Sundergarh,” informed PCCF (Wildlife) Sandeep Tripathy.

”The last time the beast was spotted was during the 80’s. Although publications indicated the presence of panthers in the forests of Phulbani, there were no photographic evidences to prove the same. However this time, we have videographic evidence of the black panther,” informed Tripathy.

A black panther is a melanistic color variant of the species and found in eight other states of the country. Odisha happens to be the only state which has both melanistic tigers and panther, the senior official informed.

The presence of the Panther and its cub is an indication that the habitat of our state is improving, he added.