Guwahati, 15 June (HS): In a significant development for wildlife conservation in Assam, a rare black panther has been photographed for the first time in the Dulung Reserve Forest under the Lakhimpur Legislative Assembly constituency. The sighting was revealed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma through a social media post.

Sharing the image of the elusive animal, the Chief Minister described the discovery as encouraging news for biodiversity conservation. He said that a black panther, locally known as “Ghong,” was captured on camera for the first time in the Dulung Reserve Forest.

According to the Chief Minister, the photograph was obtained during a regular camera-trapping exercise conducted by a research team working under the Lakhimpur Forest Division. The monitoring programme successfully recorded the presence of the rare and endangered big cat in the protected forest area.

Wildlife experts consider the sighting highly significant, as it highlights the ecological importance of small protected forests located in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas. The presence of a top predator such as the black panther indicates a healthy habitat capable of supporting diverse wildlife populations.

The discovery is being viewed as a major boost for Assam’s conservation efforts and offers fresh evidence of the state's rich biodiversity and favourable natural environment for rare wildlife species. -----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash