Incredible Discovery: A Wildlife Photographer Captures a leopard with Unique-Colored Eyes

While on a safari in Karnataka's Bandipur Tiger Reserve, photographer Dhruv Patil captured a remarkable moment. He photographed an elderly female leopard perched on a tree, but it wasn't until he reached home and looked at the picture more carefully that he noticed something extraordinary: the leopard had different colored eyes—one brown and the other bluish-green.Excited by the discovery, Patil remarked, "It's incredible to document such rare mutations in such elusive creatures." Heterochromia is the term for the disorder that affects humans or animals whose eyes are different colors. Most of the time, there are no issues with the condition. As stated by WebMD, "It's often just a quirk caused by genes passed down from parents or by something that happened when your eyes were forming."(Source: Google Images)  This Rare Sighting is Unbelievable But We Have Science to Back it all Up ~ Others who agreed with Patil's assessment of the leopard's uniqueness and appreciated his commitment to recording these infrequent events expressed similar sentiments. One follower said, "The world of wild animals is truly incredible," while another just called the photo a "rare catch." Patil wrote a thorough caption expressing his thankfulness and amazement for being able to see such a unique occurrence in the outdoors. He wrote, "It's amazing to document such rare mutations in such elusive creatures." "A hetero-chromic leopard in Bandipur has just emerged, after melanistic leopards such as the Kabini black panther. Seeing the wonders of Mother Nature is amazing!'' Patil's allusion to melancholic leopards—in particular, the well-known Kabini black panther—emphasizes his breadth of knowledge and commitment to wildlife photography. With its dark, nearly black coat due to a high melanin content, the black panther—another uncommon variation of the common leopard—has also come to be recognized as an icon in the wildlife community. In addition to enhancing his portfolio, the hetero-chromic leopard shot advances scientific knowledge about leopard populations in India. This leopard's heterochromia raises concerns about genetic diversity within the species and could lead to more investigation into the genetic composition of leopards in the area. Environmentalist Joseph Hoover, who is based in Bengaluru stated, "This is a rare photograph, without a doubt." He did clarify, though, that animals with bicolored eyes, such as tigers, horses, and dogs, are not unusual. "However, animals' vision will not be affected," he continued. 

10-Year-Old Bengaluru Boy Wins Best Photographer Award at WPY in London

A young prodigy from Bengaluru, Vihaan Talya Vikas, has emerged as the winner of the Best Photographer Award in the under-10 category at the renowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition held in London. This exceptional achievement has garnered widespread attention and admiration for the budding talent. Vihaan's passion for wildlife photography was ignited by his father's influence, and his dedication and creativity have set him apart at such a tender age. His winning photograph, captured on the outskirts of Bengaluru, beautifully depicted a spider alongside Krishna's carving, showcasing his artistic vision and connection with nature. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition received an overwhelming response this year, with submissions pouring in from 95 countries across various categories. Out of the staggering 50,000 images received, only the top 100 were considered for the competition, and Vihaan's remarkable work stood out among them. As a reward for his exceptional achievement, Vihaan's photograph will be included in the prestigious WPY59 collection and displayed at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition, hosted by the Natural History Museum. This exhibition will tour 25 venues across four continents, aiming to raise awareness about wildlife conservation. Vihaan's journey as a photographer began when he was just seven years old, with his father providing guidance and support. Dhritiman Mukherjee, a renowned wildlife and conservation photographer and a competition judge, praised Vihaan's winning image for its artistic, conceptual, conservation, and scientific value. The young boy's thought process and composition were also highly commended.