Researchers have found that there are spots on body of black leopards. They made the discovery after making use of infrared illumination. Earlier, it has been difficult for researchers to track the animal as a result of their black coats.

It will be now possible to study the leopards and count their population more precisely. According to lead author Laurie Hedges, zoology graduate from the University of Nottingham, “Understanding how leopards are faring in an increasingly human-dominated world is vital. This new approach gives us a novel tool to help save this unique and endangered animal”.

The researchers made use of the infrared technique in order to determine that in the northeastern regions of Malaysia, near Malay Peninsula, three leopards are there for every 38.6 square kilometers. According to Gopolasamy Rueben Clements, co-author of the study, they are able to capture longer wavelength than ordinary light by making use of the near-infrared light from their camera and this makes the spots visible.

According to him, eumelanin, which is a pigment of the skin, seems less opaque in the less deeply pigmented background of the fur coat, when it is illuminated by infrared camera traps. According to reports, the images showed the complex patterns on the creature’s skin that is invisible to naked eye.

As per Professor William Laurance from James Cook University, decline in population of black leopards is greatly because of poaching on large scale. As per reports, illegal trade of leopard skins and body parts is being done in Myanmar-China border.