Elusive predator shocks parkgoers by walking along road in Thailand. See the photos
In Kaeng Krachan National Park, more than 1,000 square miles of protected land allow a plethora of creatures to live undisturbed.
Despite this, being able to see the park’s more elusive inhabitants is rare. Sometimes, you just have to get lucky.
That’s exactly what happened for a group of visitors in a tour car working its way through the park Feb. 10, according to a Facebook post from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
The tourists were driving toward a higher vantage point to see over the fog and look out at the sea, the department said, when they noticed a black figure emerging from the dense forest.
The giant paws of a black leopard were quickly followed by the rest of its pitch-black body, but it was in no hurry, officials said.
The leopard wasn’t spooked by the vehicle but instead walked calmly along the road near the now-parked tourist car, taking its time, officials said.
The leopard spent two or three minutes strolling down the path before once again turning into the forest and disappearing, according to the post.
The group was able to snap clear and close-up pictures of the animal that were shared on Facebook.
Park officials said seeing a black leopard in general in the park was rare, let alone for such an extended and clear amount of time.
Mongkol Chaiyaphakdee, head of the Kaeng Krachan National Park, said the leopard sighting was indicative of good ecosystem health in the park, since the leopard sits at the top of the food chain. A healthy-looking leopard means its prey and the crops that feed them are also flourishing, Chaiyaphakdee said.
Park officials urged visitors to remember safety procedures and never get out of a tour vehicle when they encounter animals in the park, according to the post. Visitors are encouraged to refrain from using any flash or clicking sounds when taking photos of wildlife, and they should always use the park’s shuttle service driven by staff who have been trained on the safety procedures and route.
Leopards, or panthers, are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, southwest Asia, the Middle East and southeastern Asia, according to the IUCN Red List. They are listed as “vulnerable,” and their numbers are decreasing.
Black panthers, as they are colloquially named, are a color variation of a leopard with fully black fur or large blotches of black spots on a dark background color, according to Britannica.
Some studies estimate as few as 11% of leopards are black or “melanistic,” making sightings of the animals in the wild a special occurrence, according to Britannica.
Kaeng Krachan National Park is no stranger to rare sightings, including the announcement of trail cameras that recorded a mother Bengal tiger and her triplets for the first time earlier this year.
Kaeng Krachan National Park is the largest national park in Thailand, encompassing 1,100 square miles of forest in central Thailand between the Gulf of Thailand and the eastern border of Myanmar.
Facebook Translate was used to translate the Facebook post from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
This story was originally published February 11, 2025 at 12:13 PM with the headline "Elusive predator shocks parkgoers by walking along road in Thailand. See the photos."
