Holematthi Nature Foundation (HNF) records Karnataka's first 'Sandalwood Leopard'

Key facts

• The Holematthi Nature Foundation (HNF) documented an ultra-rare leopard colour morph in Vijayanagara district, marking the first in the state.
• The big cat, named the 'Sandalwood Leopard,' has a pale reddish-pink coat resembling the colour of sandalwood, marked with light-brown rosettes.
• The leopard (Panthera pardus) has an appearance consistent with naturally occurring genetic traits such as hypomelanism or erythrism.
• This discovery marks only the second such sighting in India, with the only previous Indian record from Rajasthan's Ranakpur region.
• Globally, this colour morph, referred to as 'strawberry leopards,' has been documented only five times, including sightings in South Africa and Tanzania.
• Definitive identification of the underlying genetic mechanism would require molecular analysis using non-invasive DNA samples such as scat or hair.