Two Extremely Rare Black Tigers Seen Together on Camera

Photographs of two exceedingly uncommon black tigers wandering the Nandankanan National Park in eastern India have surfaced. These exquisite creatures have only ever been seen in this area, and experts believe there may just be seven to eight of them living. The dark striped pattern on their bright orange-golden fur blends due to a genetic anomaly called pseudo-melanism, leaving their pelts completely black. The unusual animals, who were all male, were within 30 feet of Satya Swagat, an amateur photographer who was able to take beautiful pictures.

Due to their inbreeding and little to no interactions with other species outside of the eastern Indian state, black tigers are extremely rare. According to researchers studying the endangered species in the Similipal reserve, the limited initial population of tigers may cause the genetic mutation’s exclusivity. According to evidence from computer simulations and genetic assessments of other tiger populations from India, the Similipal black tigers may have developed from a relatively small founding population of tigers. Though they have been sighted there since 1993, black tigers have only been spotted in Similipal, Odisha, since 2007.

The discovery of these exceedingly rare black tigers has sparked excitement among nature lovers worldwide. This finding will increase public awareness of safeguarding these threatened species habitats.