The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, UK was recently distributed a small bundle when its resident Jaguar Keira gave birth to a cub. The little one, however, turned completely black and came with a surprise. Although all-black jaguars are unheard of, they are rare, making this birth – a boon for the species as a whole all the more special. The Jaguars must have thrown the big one into the cats, about 2 meters (feet) long, the largest in America. They are famous for their lot of killer mittens (aka panja) and big heads full of strong jaws.
While we may not survive so well against these impressive predators in hand-to-hand combat, their huge size is effective when you want to spend some time on an adorable cub made even smaller by its mother’s huge size. Typically, their large cats have the same orange color as other large cats, only marked with unique dark roses. Sometimes, however, nature comes up with a unique design when the cubs are born with a condition known as melanism.
Seen in all corners of the animal kingdom (see these velvet black seals), melanism is a condition that creates an additional cause of pigmentation, which makes the animal appear much darker than usual. Very few jaguars are born with melanism, creating such rarity as jet-black babies.
Big cats born with melanism are usually identified as black panthers, although they are usually jaguars or leopards, depending on where you live in the world. Born April, the little one is portrayed as healthy and sporty as she is intensely short, running her best lifting efforts despite being already so incredibly short. Born April, the little one is portrayed as healthy and sporty as she is intensely short, running her best lifting efforts despite being already so incredibly short.
Not yet named, the Big Cat Sanctuary is in a competition to choose between Inca, Inti, or Killari names by voting (submitted with a grant) for the opportunity to meet the cub in person as part of a VIP sanctuary tour.
