Second Sighting in a Year: Black Deer Spotted Again in Kurseong Forests

Another rare black deer has been spotted in the forests of Kurseong in West Bengal. In January this year, forest officials documented a similar deer in the Dow Hill area. Now, a tourist trekking through the same forest has spotted another black deer and captured photographs of the unusual sighting. With the Durga Puja season drawing visitors to Darjeeling and Kurseong, the tourist group was exploring the pine-covered Dow Hill forests when one of its members noticed the animal. The rare sight left visitors surprised and delighted.

Experts explain that certain genetic variations can cause an excessive production of melanin, the pigment responsible for dark coloration, making an animal’s body appear black. In leopards, this condition is associated with the appearance of black panthers. Similar variations may also occur in barking deer, resulting in unusually dark coats. Earlier this year, Kurseong Divisional Forest Officer Debesh Pandey had documented a black deer in the Dow Hill area. Expressing happiness over the latest sighting, he said the appearance of these rare animals was a matter of pride for the state forest department and wildlife enthusiasts.