MEXICO: Scientists have observed spots on black leopards that are not visible generally. In order to observe the spots, they made simple adjustments in camera used by them. According to them, this trick will also assist in conservation of the animals.
Scientists doing research on leopards on the Malay Peninsula were facing problem in telling the individual animals apart, as a result of which problems were occurring in research. However, images captured with the infrared flash that fired on automatic cameras placed in the forest show complex whirls of spots in the animals.
According to William Laurance from Australia’s James Cook University (JCU), “It was really by accident that we discovered that if you can get that infrared flash to go off in the daytime you could suddenly see the spots. And because the spots are unique, you can tell them all apart”.
As per researchers, they used the method in the north east of peninsular Malaysia and this helped them identify 94% of black leopards, which is a step forward in conservation efforts. Laurance said it’s fundamental and quite important to know size of the population.
He said if it is not considered, telling anything apart by merely looking at such photos is not possible. According to him, it’s a tough task to reach any conclusion regarding population abundance, population trends, in addition to the effects of different types of things in due course.
The leopards found in this part of the world are generally black; however, reason behind this is not known.
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