A black panther has been spotted near the famous Pratapgad fort in Mahabaleshwar, leaving wildlife lovers excited. This is perhaps the first such sighting in the area, said experts. A clip showing the big cat has gone viral. Melanistic leopards are commonly called black panthers or black leopards. 

“Two herders Ravindra Jadhav and Subhash Jadhav from Kumthe village had taken their cattle to the foothills of Pratapgad for grazing when they spotted a black leopard. They  also recorded a video of the melanistic leopard,” said a forest department official.