The Black Beauty

Giza the Black Leopard

The enigmatic black leopard named Giza (which means “darkness” in Swahili) is the queen of the Laikipia Plateau, Kenya. However, a black leopard, also known as a black panther, is not a distinct species. Giza and others like her are a striking variant of the more common “spotted” leopard (Panthera pardus). The captivating black coat of Giza is due to a genetic phenomenon called melanism.