A 1.5-year-old female black panther, exhausted and separated from its mother, was rescued by Shivamogga Zoo staff on Tuesday evening. The cub, found near Kumta in Uttara Kannada district’s Katgal area, was struggling to survive due to starvation.
Dr. Muruli Manohar, the zoo veterinarian, and his team provided immediate medical attention and safely transported the cub to Shivamogga Zoo. The zoo officials confirmed that the cub is currently under care, requiring rest and medical treatment for recovery.
Notably, the melanistic variant of panthers, like this cub, is rare, with predominantly female sightings reported in Karnataka. The Katgal range, where the cub was found, is home to numerous leopards, but they face challenges finding prey.
Honavar Forest Division DCF Yogeesh CK explained, “Local villagers informed us about a stressed animal hiding in a water passage tube on Monday night. Our staff rushed to the spot, identified the animal, and provided shelter. We requested Shivamogga Zoo authorities to rescue the animal, and they successfully did so.”
DCF Yogeesh CK added, “The cub was stressed, hadn’t eaten for days, and had no hunting skills, leading to starvation. Fortunately, it was spotted, and we were able to rescue it. If it had moved into the wild, its chances of survival would have been slim.” Under the guidance of higher authorities, the cub was sent to Shivamogga Zoo for care and rehabilitation.
