India’s First Pink Leopard Sighted In Rajasthan

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<strong>The wildlife fraternity in India is abuzz with the news about the sighting of a rare pink female leopard in Rajasthan’s Ranakpur region which falls in the Pali district.</strong></p>
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In the past pink leopard was sighted in South Africa and this colour differentiation is traced to mutation.</p>
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Usually, the Indian leopard has spots on pale yellow to yellowish-brown or golden skin but this rare exception has skin which is reddish-brown and its spots are also distinct. South Africa has reported such strawberry-coated leopards before more than once.</p>
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In a report in Hindustan Times, talking about villagers in Ranakpur and Rajsamand district’s Kumbhalgarh areas catching glimpse of this special leopard, Fateh Singh, the Deputy Conservator of Forest said: <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rare-pink-leopard-sighted-in-ranakpur-hills-of-rajasthan-101636531999359.html">“The colour seems to because</a> of skin mutation.” It is not clear if in these two regions were visited by the same leopard or different ones.</p>
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Providing additional information, retired Indian Forest Officer Sunayan Sharma said this leopard was a mature female with a cub and its pink colour is an example of a rare mutation. “I haven’t come across a pink leopard.”</p>
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Scientist Dr YV Jhala of Wildlife Institute of India added: “The leopard seems to have a light coat colour and a natural variation but not an albino.” According to Anil Rodgers of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, this is the country’s first strawberry (leucistic) leopard.</p>
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Rodgers expressed that the wildlife department should step up monitoring of this animal as there is a threat of poachers and also photographers who may disturb its habitat.</p>
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<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/culture-news/leopard-stuck-in-a-feet-deep-well-in-maharashtra-s-otur-village-rescued-safely-124264.html">Leopard stuck in a 50 feet deep well in Maharashtra's Otur village rescued safely</a></strong></p>