Black, spotted leopards filmed together in Kaeng Krachan

A wildlife photographer documented the sighting of two black and three spotted leopards together in Kaeng Krachan National Park, a Unesco World Heritage site. Park chief Mongkol Chaipakdee reported the five leopards were observed between 9am and 10am on Sunday near the kilometre 3 marker on the Ban Krang Camp road, close to the park's Khao Sam Yot protection unit, KJ 2.

Photographer Natnalee Suraplanan captured images and video footage of a female black leopard and a male spotted leopard. The remaining three leopards scurried away into the roadside bushes. Mongkol suggested the juveniles, aged two to three years, were likely siblings. The survival of these apex predators indicates a healthy ecosystem with abundant prey.

The park thanked Natnalee for donating the photographs and video to scientific research. The footage will be added to the park's database for monitoring leopard behaviour and population distribution. The sighting is close to a proposed dolomite mine, prompting the park to strengthen patrols in high-risk areas to protect wildlife habitats.