Bhubaneswar: A melanistic leopard with its cub was sighted in Nayagarh district on Friday, Odisha’s chief wildlife warden Prem Kumar Jha said in a post on X.

“A rare melanistic leopard with a cub was sighted in central Odisha, reflecting the region’s incredible biodiversity. These elusive ‘black panthers’ are vital to the ecosystem. Protecting their habitat ensures a thriving wildlife heritage,” he wrote.