TT #63: black panther

Thirteen facts about the black panther My power animal is a black panther, that has been with me for as long as I can remember. Practically always when I'm in a meditation or journey she accompagnies me. Black panthers don't actually refer to any specific species of cats, but rather any large cat that is all-black in colouring. These cats possess a mutated gene, which causes melanism. Melanism is the trait that makes the cats' coat turn black. When people say black panthers, they are usually referring to black leopards, though it still depends on a specific area's use of the word Panther. Panther itself used to be a word to mean any large cat with a long tail, but has since then become a word to refer to any large black cat. Black panthers, whether of the jaguar or leopard species, are considered either threatened or endangered in various locations around the world. Leopards in Africa are considered endangered, while the leopards in South America are considered threatened or near threatened. There are fewer black panthers in these places than their normal kin, so they are considered endangered. On the other hand, black panthers in Asia are bigger in number than their normal-coloured kin, though both are still in either the endangered or threatened list. The better survival rate of black panthers in these locations may be because the black colouring helps them hide better in dimly lit jungle and forest habitats. Black panthers are born when the parents both have the melanistic trait in their genes, though in jaguars, one may be enough because it is a dominant gene in them. Black panthers can be born from two normal-colored cats, while a black panther can give birth to normal-coloured cubs. They usually have a smaller amount of cubs in a litter than their normal counterparts. This may be because of in-breeding. In-breeding also causes the black panthers to become temperamental and more skittish than the normal members of their species. This is also the reason why their lifespans and reproductive rate become shorter and smaller. Black panthers still share the same traits as the normal-coloured cats of their respective species. Black leopards, for example, still have leopard spots, only they are hidden by the blackness of the rest of their coat. Black jaguars are still stocky and heavily built. Their rosetta pattern spots are usually still slightly visible through their black coats. Like most cats, black panthers in general are graceful and agile on their feet, are fierce and excellent hunters, and vary in size from large to medium depending on their species. Black tigers, for example, are extremely large, while melanistic bobcats are relatively small. Black panthers are hunted down for their unique and beautiful fur because their pelt fetches a large sum in illegal trade. Sometimes, they are also hunted down because they threaten the livestock of the humans in the area. Black panthers are often found in captivity because they are very attractive to tourists and visitors. Some people even try to have them as a pet, but that's a very bad idea!! Not rarely deathly accidents happen when the cub grows older. The Black Leopard has a highly proven track record as a man eater. Black panthers are athletic creatures that can kill prey bigger than they are. They are excellent hunters and take advantage of their fur to sneak up on their prey better. A black panther can walk through a heard of cattle without being noticed – that's how good they are. They can usually run fast enough to chase prey across the jungle floor, though they prefer stalking and catching their prey off guard. Black panthers are excellent climbers and can also catch their prey by snagging them from trees. They can climb up a tree trunk at amazing speeds, and reach high places by jumping them leaping on the branches. The female black panther raises her cubs on her own after a pregnancy of about 90 to a hundred days. The litter ranges from about 2 to 3 cubs per litter. She trains her cubs to hunt at about 2 to 3 months old. Before then, she leaves them in a den or any secure hollow that can keep the cubs hidden from any possible predator. Cubs start their training by preying on lizards and larger insects. They only start to go after larger game at around 7 months old, when they get their permanent teeth. Female cubs leave their mothers at about two years old, but usually stay close to their mother's territory. In the fictional universe of the Forgotten Realms (a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game) Guenhwyvar is a magical black panther from the Astral Plane. Guenhwyvar weighs about 600 lb (272 kg). The panther was created by writer R.A. Salvatore, who named one of his own cats after the panther. The name Guenhwyvar is taken from the Welsh version of the name Guinevere, King Arthur's queen. Who doesn't know Bagheera, the black panther from The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling? "Bagheera" is Hindi for leopard. Bagheera is one of Mowgli's mentors and shares in many of his adventures as he grows. In several adaptations of the story Bagheera is portrayed as female, since there are no major female characters in the original novel by Kipling. In Maugli (Russian film adaptation) it should be noted that she has three cubs, one black and two normally colored ones. In Disney's adaptation Bagheera the panther is male. The Panther, Leopard or Jaguar is a very ancient and powerful totem animal. It embodies aggressiveness and power but without solar influence. A Black Panther’s power is lunar. The Black Panther is endowed with great magic and power and this power will increasingly be experienced. People with a Panther totem have the ability to do a variety of tasks at the same time. They tend to be loners, very comfortable with themselves and are often drawn to other solitary people. Women with Panther totems often find themselves raising their children alone, whether it be through divorce or just circumstances of the job. Panther people can develop clairaudience, the ability to hear communications from other forms of life or dimensions. They should trust their thoughts and inner visions as they are based in reality. On YouTube I found this beautiful tribute to the black panther, a compilation of great pictures. If you search YouTube for "black panther" or "black leopard" you can see a lot more videos. sources: Beautiful Black Panthers, Lin's Domain, Wikipedia This is my current desktop wallpaper. 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