Black panther spotted at Udanti-Sitanadi tiger reserve in Chhattisgarh
Visuals of the black panther were obtained following installation of over 200 cameras across the tiger reserve for over 80 days from December 2016 to April 2017.
Chhattisgarh forest department officials have confirmed the presence of a black panther at the Udanti-Sitanadi tiger reserve in Gariyaband district. Forest officials believe this is the first time footage of the rare beast has been captured in central India.
The black panther spotted at at Udanti-Sitanadi tiger reserve in Chhattisgarh.
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Visuals of the black panther were obtained following the installation of over 200 cameras across the tiger reserve for over 80 days from December 2016 to April 2017. Forest officials took the step after a few guards reportedly caught sight of the animal while on duty.
The Udanti-Sitanadi tiger reserve is spread across 1,842.54 square kilometres.
“Now we have photographic evidence of the black panther,” said chief conservator of forests (wildlife) OP Yadav.
Although a forest officer reportedly spotted a black panther in the area 24 years ago, no scientific records were found to buttress his claim. Another officer glimpsed a female black panther and two cubs in the Achanakmaar jungles three years ago, but the authorities were unable to gather any scientific evidence in this regard either.
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Black panthers were earlier said to inhabit the Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary and Sharavathi Wildlife Sanctuary.
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Black panthers were earlier said to inhabit the Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary and Sharavathi Wildlife Sanctuary.
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting.
His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.
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