Incredible Photos Of A Black Panther In Africa For The First Time In 100 Years, Captured From Camera Traps

Will Burrard-Lucas is a famous British wildlife photographer and entrepreneur. He started his career in professional wildlife photography in 2010. Will has been known for employing innovative devices to achieve a fresh perspective. In 2014, Will launched Camtraptions Ltd, a company that turns his inventions for the craft into products for other professionals. BeetleCams and camera traps are two of his popular photography devices.

Image Credit: Will Burrard-Lucas

In 2019, Will used Camtraptions camera trap equipment exclusively in his black panther project. He set up these traps to photograph a melanistic leopard in Africa for the first time in 100 years.

Image Credit: Will Burrard-Lucas

Like any other wildlife photographer, Will desires to take once-in-a-lifetime photos of wild animals. When the man heard that a black leopard had been spotted at Laikipia Wilderness Camp in Kenya, he immediately contacted Steve and Annabelle Carey, the owners of the camp, to find out more.

Image Credit: Will Burrard-Lucas

This is probably the most challenging and successful photography project in this career life.
When Will came to Laikipia, he was introduced to Luisa Ancilotto who lived close to the camp and had seen a black leopard recently. That kind-hearted woman provided him lots of useful information about the leopard’s habits and territory.

Image Credit: Will Burrard-Lucas

Will began to do his incredible project. He picked up some fresh tracks nearby of the leopard and even found out a trail when following them. The photographer decided to set up his camera traps there to capture images of the majestic cat.

Image Credit: Will Burrard-Lucas

Image Credit: Will Burrard-Lucas

Image Credit: Will Burrard-Lucas

Image Credit: Will Burrard-Lucas

And this hard work was paid. The wild melanistic leopard was snapped in camera traps for the first time in Africa since 1909. When will shared these photos on his social accounts, it stunned the Internet.

Image Credit: Will Burrard-Lucas

Image Credit: Will Burrard-Lucas

“The images were captured at Laikipia Wilderness Camp in Kenya, using [self-made] Camtraptions camera traps,” Will said. “Each trap is made up of a Camtraptions motion sensor, which wirelessly triggers a high-quality DSLR or mirrorless camera and two or three flashes. I leave these cameras on game paths for days or even weeks at a time in order to photograph elusive animals. The technique also allows me to set up studio-like lighting in order to capture striking images of animals at night.”

Image Credit: Will Burrard-Lucas

H/T: Bored Panda