Elusive black creature spotted for first time in months — now with a little ‘shadow’
A black panther has been photographed in a Thailand park after staying hidden for a few months, the park announced.
This time, she wasn’t alone.
Kaeng Krachan National Park, in Phetchaburi, Thailand, shared photos of the new panther mom and her tiny cub, a shadow of its mysterious mother, in a May 22 Facebook post.
Park officials said the photos were taken along a route in the park that is frequented by tourists, and those moving through the area were likely to see the mom and her cub.
Black panthers are common in the park, and officials said their presence proves this part of the park is still thriving.
In May 2022, the park shared a video of a black panther taken by a tourist in the same location as the new mom and cub. Panthers had been spotted two days in a row along the road, officials told The Thaiger news outlet.
There are only around 200 black panthers left in Thailand, The Thaiger reported, meaning the back-to-back sightings in 2022 were either a lucky coincidence, or the black panther population may be on the rise in the area.
The mother and cub spotting a year later offers more evidence the population may be making a comeback.
The park recommended tips for interacting with wildlife since the panthers were seen in a heavy tourist area.
First, the park recommends stopping at least 150 feet away from the animals and backing up if the animal approaches. Second, the park says not to use a car horn or other loud noises to scare an animal away, as it may make the animal angry. Lastly, park officials encourage tourists not to stop for photos or to get out of their car.
Kaeng Krachan National Park is about 120 miles southwest of Bangkok.
Facebook translation and Google Translate were used to translate the Facebook post from Kaeng Krachan National Park.
