KAMPHAENG PHET, THAILAND – A camera trap in Khlong Lan National Park captured a uniquely rare sight: a female leopard and a black panther walking side by side through the forest.
Extraordinary footage from remote Thai forest
In June 2020, an automatic camera trap operated by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) recorded two big cats moving calmly together through the undergrowth of Khlong Lan National Park. Analysis confirmed the animals were a female leopard and a black panther sharing the same territory, an occurrence described as extremely rare.
Black panther revealed as melanistic leopard
According to park authorities, the black panther was not a separate species but a leopard with melanism, a genetic trait causing an excess of dark pigment. Seen up close, the typical leopard rosettes were still faintly visible beneath the dark coat.
Both animals belonged to the subspecies Panthera pardus delacourii, the Indochinese leopard, and their joint appearance of a normally coloured and a melanistic individual in the wild was considered highly unusual.
From scientific sensation to park mascots
Rangers and WWF Thailand staff celebrated the discovery by giving the cats local names: the black panther was named “Chao Kuay” (herbal jelly) and the leopard “Kluay Khai” (finger-banana). Both products are iconic specialities of Kamphaeng Phet Province, linking wildlife protection with local identity.
The pair quickly became the unofficial mascots of the national park, attracting nature enthusiasts from across the country and inspiring new interest in the forest.
Proof of a healthy ecosystem
Park officials said the presence of these apex predators was the strongest sign of an intact and healthy ecosystem. Only forests with abundant prey could support such large cats, making the find a major success for Thailand’s conservation efforts.
The park used the animals’ popularity to sell souvenirs bearing images of Chao Kuay and Kluay Khai in its shop, with proceeds directed to park protection and management.
Hope for endangered Indochinese leopards
The Indochinese leopard was regarded as severely endangered, with habitat loss and poaching causing dramatic population declines. The sighting of this healthy pair in Thailand was therefore seen as an important sign of hope, demonstrating that protected areas were working.
Other parks reported similar successes, including a recent appearance of a young tiger at a viewpoint in Nakhon Ratchasima, cited as further evidence of recovering wildlife populations.
Symbol of national natural heritage
The video from Khlong Lan was described as far more than cute footage, serving as a scientific document of immense value that offered insight into the social behaviour of these elusive cats. For Thailand, it became a symbol of national natural heritage and helped strengthen environmental awareness among the public.
Visitors to the park now hoped for a fleeting glimpse of the legendary “sisters in fur”, regarded as the forest’s greatest hunters and a living emblem of what successful conservation could still protect.