Extremely Rare Strawberry Leopard Spotted At The Wildlife Reserve

The extremely rare strawberry leopard has been photographed for the very first time up close! The image was caught by a couple, Alan and Lynsey Watson, in Thaba Tholo Wilderness Reserve. The couple had seen the leopard skulking around the reserve before but was never able to capture it on film.

The strawberry leopard gets its name due to its unusual reddish skin pigmentation. The images the Watson's managed to get show the pink-hued creature feasting on the carcass on a giraffe, which had been kill during an intense thunderstorm.

Story via Fox News

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The rare strawberry leopard up-close

via Black Leopard Mountain Lodge / SWNS

Mr. Watson, the owner of Black Leopard Mountain Lodge, has nicknamed the strawberry leopard 'Goldie' and is hopeful that even more of the rare species will be born in the years to come.
The strawberry leopard - also known as the 'Golden Leopard' - was discovered back in 2012, in a different location, close to the Botswana border.
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"As far as I know, this is the rarest color of leopard in the world,” said Mr. Watson

via Black Leopard Mountain Lodge / SWNS
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Mr and Mrs Watson who captured the incredible images:

via Black Leopard Mountain Lodge / SWNS

"They are so well camouflaged and incredibly elusive. Even these ones, if they were going through the long grass you wouldn't see them. If she doesn't want to be seen, you aren't going to see her."
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via Black Leopard Mountain Lodge