National Geographic Features Indian Photographer's Shot Of Rare Black Tiger
Indian photographer Prasenjeet Yadav's image of a black tiger from Odisha's Similipal National Park has featured on the cover of National Geographic magazine's upcoming October 2025 edition.
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National Geographic's editor-in-chief highlighted how the feature demonstrates conservation's complex challenges.
New Delhi:
The upcoming October 2025 edition of National Geographic magazine will showcase Indian photographer Prasenjeet Yadav's remarkable capture of a black tiger from Similipal National Park in Odisha on its cover.
This captivating image, secured after patiently tracking for months through the thick forest terrain, displays one of the world's most elusive felines. These pseudo-melanistic tigers exist exclusively in Similipal, with approximately half of the reserve's 30 tigers carrying this unusual genetic mutation.
"Working as a National Geographic photographer and Explorer in Similipal's forests has been an extraordinary privilege. I witnessed the unwavering dedication of the Odisha Forest Department's management and the commitment demonstrated by its officers in protecting these magnificent tigers.
"The experience of photographing T12 was both intense and humbling, requiring days and months of patience condensed into one brief moment. Seeing this story featured on an international National Geographic Magazine cover is both an honor and a powerful reminder of why we document India's incredible wildlife," Yadav expressed in a statement.
Nathan Lump, National Geographic's editor-in-chief, noted that the story illustrates conservation's intricate realities.
"(It) presents a surprising dimension to that success story: the narrative of a powerful male tiger with a rare genetic mutation, which highlights the consequences when animal populations recover but remain isolated within reserves, without access to genetic diversity," he elaborated.
Alok Jain from JioStar, which manages the National Geographic channel in India, described the image as "an elusive and almost mythical sight" that continues the magazine's tradition of pioneering storytelling.
This distinguished recognition places Yadav among the limited group of Indian photographers whose work has graced the magazine's cover throughout its 135-year distinguished history, drawing global attention to both India's vulnerable ecosystems and the individuals striving to preserve them.