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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsPhotographer Crosses Paths With A Black Cat Unlike Any He's Seen Before
"Can't describe how mind-blowing this was ..."BY STEPHEN MESSENGER
Some people might think crossing paths with a black cat is a bad omen but for wildlife photographer George Turner, his encounter with one such feline was actually a sign of really, really good fortune.
Not only is the animal Turner met incredibly gorgeous, he just might be the only one like him on Earth.
It was a serval, a cat native to Africa. Normally, they look like this:
The serval Turner photographed in the wild of Tanzania, however, looked much different.
"Can't describe how mind-blowing this was ... and still is," Turner wrote online.
Instead of being spotted, this serval was all black:
This serval is believed to have melanism a rare condition that causes unusually dark pigmentation in animals' skin and fur. As a result, the serval's already striking form took on a whole new level of beauty.
This was something even an experienced wildlife photographer like Turner had never seen before.
"For context, even seeing a 'normal' serval is tough," he wrote. "Theyre shy, secretive cats that tend to live in tall grasses the perfect combination for staying unnoticed. Every time Ive been privileged enough to see them, my heart skips a beat."
Fortunately, the serval Turner spotted appears to be healthy, despite being different. And though Turner was only able to snap one photo before he disappeared into the brush, with that, he won't soon be forgotten.
"The hope, for now, is that he continues to flourish in the grasslands and build on his territory," Turner wrote, optimistic the cat's chances at finding a mate: "What serval could resist those charming good looks?!"
https://www.thedodo.com/in-the-wild/photographer-spots-all-black-serval
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Photographer Crosses Paths With A Black Cat Unlike Any He's Seen Before (Original Post)
catbyte
Nov 2019
OP
Which means it will prefer to hunt at night (when its cooler) adjust its sleep schedule accordingly
Volaris
Nov 2019
#5
RainCaster
(10,884 posts)1. Wow! That's beautiful!
That's one gorgeous cat. Good for him getting that shot, that's a once in a lifetime opportunity.
gopiscrap
(23,761 posts)2. wow how cool is that!
Volaris
(10,272 posts)3. A few thoughts:
First.. darwinian evolution in action and real time...this cat is gonna have much better luck hunting at night, and if it does so can pass on those genes and create a new subspecies
OR
the fucking Matrix is glitching again.
Either way, that's pretty fucking awesome!
Celerity
(43,408 posts)4. Actually no, the black coat tends to overheat the cat in the day
in its native climatic habitat.
Volaris
(10,272 posts)5. Which means it will prefer to hunt at night (when its cooler) adjust its sleep schedule accordingly
Darwinian Evolution in action
=)
Response to Celerity (Reply #4)
crazytown This message was self-deleted by its author.
NBachers
(17,120 posts)7. A cat of royal bearing, it still has that "You don't wanna mess with me" look about it.
pansypoo53219
(20,978 posts)8. black is so much cooler than albino.