Indian Photographer's Image of Rare Black Tiger Features on National Geographic Cover
An image of a rare pseudo-melanistic tiger in Odisha’s Similipal National Park, captured by Indian photographer Prasenjeet Yadav, will grace the cover of National Geographic's October 2025 issue. These "black tigers," distinguished by a genetic mutation causing their thick stripes to merge, are found exclusively in Similipal. Yadav's photograph, the result of months of patient tracking, brings global attention to this unique subspecies and the conservation efforts in one of India's most important tiger habitats.
Unpacked:
The pseudo-melanistic trait is caused by a specific mutation in the Taqpep gene, resulting in excessively broad and merged stripes. This mutation is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait and is unique to the Similipal tiger population.
Pseudo-melanistic tigers are found only in Similipal due to the population’s genetic isolation and low genetic diversity, which allowed the rare Taqpep gene mutation to become common through inbreeding and genetic drift. This mutation has not been detected in other wild tiger populations.
Yes. The high frequency of pseudo-melanism signals a lack of genetic diversity and inbreeding, which increase vulnerability to diseases and reduce adaptability, posing long-term risks to the Similipal tiger population’s survival.
Similipal National Park provides extensive forest cover, prey, and water sources crucial for tigers. Its isolation has preserved unique genetic traits but also raises conservation challenges due to limited gene flow with other tiger populations.