Wild passion: Panther, leopard make tree a love nest

A black panther and a leopard mated four times on a tree in Antarasanthe Range of the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, near Mysuru in Karnataka, on Sunday morning.

The animals were spotted by a group of wildlife enthusiasts on a safari; one of them, Prithivi Shekara, an engineering graduate, took the photograph that accompanies this article.

Mysuru district honorary wildlife warden Krithika Alanahalli, who was also on the safari, told TOI the animals in embrace weren't distracted by visitors' presence. She said the panther's and leopard's 'private' moments lasted at least 20 minutes.

(Pictures by Prithivi Shekara)