An ultra-rare leopard colour morph has been documented for the first time in Karnataka, in Vijayanagara district, by wildlife scientist Sanjay Gubbi and his team from the Holématthi Nature Foundation (HNF).
Sandalwood hues
Unlike most leopards that possess tawny coats with black rosettes, this exceptionally rare colour morph exhibits a pale reddish-pink coat, similar to the colour of sandalwood, with light-brown rosettes.
“Only a handful of such leopards have been documented so far across the globe. Internationally, leopards of this colour morph are referred to as Strawberry leopards. But to honour Karnataka’s cultural heritage, we want to name it sandalwood leopard,” Mr. Gubbi said.
Karnataka is one of the largest sandalwood producers in India.
