Kenyans Online Refuse to Buy Story about ‘First Time in 100 Years’ Sighting of Black Leopard

Kenyans online have dismissed reports about the sighting of a black leopard for the ‘first time in 100 years’.

Reports appearing on a section of local and international media outlets said that British photographer Will Burrard-Lucas captured the ‘black panther’ in the wilderness of a Laikipia conservancy last month.

Kenyans on social media have however dismissed the claims, saying that the rare wild animals have lived in the area for years and have even been spotted and photographed previously.

Kenyan conservationist Mordecai Ogada says that he and his colleagues saw a similar leopard in Ol Maalo, Laikipia, during his Masters Studies research in early 2001.

Former Daily Nation former photojournalist, Phoebe Okall is also said to have spotted and photographed a black leopard at the Ol-Jogi Game Reserve in Laikipia on August 27th, 2013.

Kenyans online have termed the claims that Will spotted and captured the animal for the first time in 100 years as attempts by Westerners to take undue credit.

Here is what a section Kenyans on social media say about the story.

@Rnagila says: “Eh… actually @dailynation photographer @okallkinya1 got a picture of a black leopard in Ol Jogi Wildlife Conservancy in 2013 while on a news assignment.”

@kenyanpundit notes:”Not to mention that locals have been spotting black leopards over the last 100 years…how else did the photographer know where to go (they even helped him with setting the camera traps per his account).”

@Lunar_stoner says:”I have actionable intelligence that sightings and photographs had been taken in 2013 by our very own #PhoebeOkall.”

@KResearcher tweets:”It seems this Black Panther or its relatives have been spotted and photographed multiple times in Kenya. So why are some people saying its not been photographed for over a century? Are we missing something?”
 
@carolinekere says:”Saw that elusive #BlacKPanther story in 2010, it has various local names, in the Abadares /Kirinyaga it’s known as “kìrùmi” (an outcast of the leopard), In Gusii “Ekworo”, In Wajir North, the Somali name is “Kitowbaar” & the Borana name it “Mordee”, “Gadudana”, “Daba-ada” ..”

@EdPaiceARI notes:”This is complete nonsense from @NatGeo @NatGeoMag Black (melanistic) leopard was, for example, regularly seen at #LewaDowns Conservancy in early 2000s, and were confirmed sightings of others elsewhere in #Kenya. Rare – yes. ‘First time in 100 years’? Pull the other one.”

Activist @bonifacemwangi says:”In 2013 @dailynation photographer Phoebe Okall @okallkinya1 shot this picture of a black leopard in Ol Jogi Wildlife Conservancy. She was on a news assignment with her basic gear, spotted the cat and shot the pic. 2013. First time in almost 100 years goes to @okallkinya1 then.”

@carolinekere explains:”They have been sighted in Wajir North, the Somali name is Kitowbaar and the Borana name is Mordee, Gadudana, Daba-ada 
They can also found in Botswana & South Africa #BlackPanther.”

@jnyambogas says:”And if it were in 1940 the item will have read ‘ first man to see a black leopard’ yet the people of Laikipia have lived with the black leopard for ages and still do.”

@Kiyaavic notes:”Oh wow! There was another sighting last year if I remember correctly? Somewhere in Northern Kenya.” 

@Antony_warui tweets:”These leopards have been there for as long as i can remember. When i was a kid, there was one that killed our goats. It is no new discoveries. We as laikipians are used to them even.”

@UrbanSkript says:”It was also spotted last year September, but somehow it’s been “Discovered” now a book will be published and monies earned to “Protect the species”.”