Photographer snaps once in a lifetime moment pic of a rare black leopard

It is rare to experience a surreal moment right at the first wildlife trip. For the Pune-based photographer Abhishek Pagni, it looked straight it to his face and he captured it.

After waiting for two long hours, Abhishek ended up clicking a semi-melanistic leopard and it became the ‘perfect shot’. This dreamlike moment happened at Maharashtra Todoba Reserve.

Abhishek didn’t have high hopes about spotting animals during his two days safari trip with his parents during the month of June, but little did he know, he would be lucky enough to spot a rare black leopard.

The photograph went viral. Talking about the experience, Abhishek said that he mostly looked for tigers and ended up witnessing something breathtakingly beautiful at the end of the trip.

The 23 year old was mesmerised by the majestic creature when he saw it for the first time.

Professional wild photographers spend countless hours getting a glimpse of such rare animals, which makes Abhiske’s experience unique.

The rare animal owes its dark coat to melanism, with excess black pigment developing in the skin and hair due to a recessive genetic mutation. This rare advantage allows the leopard to blend into the shadows, making them nearly invisible in the dark.

Abhishek said that this was an incredible moment for him and an unforgettable experience. Netizens were also amazed by the photograph and applauded him for capturing the rare moment.

The viral photo came right after a wildlife photographer Mithun Hunugund captured this stunning moment in which a female leopard is being shadowed by her black panther in Kabani, Karnataka, India.