History of Black panther in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 18, 2026

Black Panther follows T'Challa, the prince of the technologically advanced, isolated African nation of Wakanda. Following his father's death, T'Challa returns home to be crowned king and assumes the mantle of the Black Panther, a legendary protector. His leadership is immediately challenged by Erik Killmonger, a vengeful outsider who seeks to seize the throne, dismantle Wakanda's isolationist policy, and use its advanced vibranium weaponry to incite a global revolution. As the nation teeters on the brink of civil war, T'Challa must reconcile his duty to protect his people with his desire to right historical wrongs. The film explores themes of legacy, identity, and global responsibility, ultimately forcing T'Challa to decide what kind of king he will be: one who hides his country’s power or one who opens it to the world to foster progress and unity.

1929: Collection of black leopard skins at the Natural History Museum, London

By 1929, the Natural History Museum in London had successfully curated a collection of black leopard skins sourced from various locations including South Africa, Nepal, Assam, and Kanara in India.

1939: Capture of a Melanistic Bobcat in Martin County

During 1939, a melanistic bobcat was captured in Martin County, Florida, which was later documented in a 1941 report.

1940: Second Capture of a Melanistic Bobcat in Martin County

In 1940, a second melanistic bobcat was captured in Martin County, Florida, appearing black in photographic evidence presented by Ulmer.

1941: Publication of Melanistic Bobcat Findings by Ulmer

In 1941, Ulmer published documentation, including photographs and descriptions, of two melanistic bobcats captured in Florida that were frequently misidentified as Florida panthers.

1989: Black Leopard Sighting on Mount Kenya

During the winter of 1989, a black African leopard was observed in the alpine region of Mount Kenya.

1990: Continued Observation of Black Leopard on Mount Kenya

The observation of a black African leopard in the alpine zone of Mount Kenya persisted into the winter of 1990.

1996: Start of Leopard Monitoring South of Kra Isthmus

Beginning in 1996, a long-term recording effort at 16 sites south of the Kra Isthmus began, which would eventually reveal a high prevalence of melanism in the local leopard population.

2003: Start of jaguar monitoring in Mamirauá

In 2003, researchers began monitoring black jaguars in the Várzea forest of the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve, a project that lasted until 2018.

2003: Black Leopard Camera Trapping in Thailand

Starting in 2003, a year-long camera trapping survey was conducted in Thailand's Kaeng Krachan National Park, which successfully photographed at least one black leopard.

2004: Black jaguar recording in Mexico

In 2004, a female black jaguar was documented within the Sierra Madre Occidental region of Mexico.

2004: Completion of Kaeng Krachan Survey

The camera trapping survey initiated in 2003 concluded in 2004, confirming the presence of black leopards in the mixed deciduous forest of Kaeng Krachan National Park.

2005: Leopard Documentation in West Java

Starting in 2005, both spotted and black leopards were officially recorded within the Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park in West Java.

2007: Camera Trap Documentation of Black Leopard

In 2007, a black leopard was successfully captured on film by a camera trap situated in Laikipia County, Kenya.

2009: First camera trap photograph in Costa Rica

In 2009, a black jaguar was captured on film for the first time by a camera trap situated in the Alberto Manuel Brenes Biological Reserve in Costa Rica.

2009: Leopard Photographic Records

In 2009, observations in Kui Buri National Park showed that black leopards were photographed more frequently than their spotted counterparts.

2010: Melanistic jaguar records begin in Talamanca

Beginning in 2010, researchers initiated a period of study in the Cordillera de Talamanca mountains, eventually obtaining 104 jaguar records by 2019, 26 of which were melanistic.

2010: Black Panther Sightings in New Orleans

Beginning in late 2010, residents in the New Orleans area reported numerous sightings of black panthers, leading to ongoing investigations by state officials.

2010: Black Leopard Sighting in Kas Plateau

In 2010, a black leopard was observed and captured in photographs within the Kas Plateau Reserved Forest in the Western Ghats of India.

2012: Multiple Black Leopard Sightings in India and Nepal

Throughout 2012, black leopards were documented in several locations, including the Kas Plateau Reserved Forest and Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary in India, as well as a high-altitude sighting in May 2012 within Nepal's Kanchenjunga Conservation Area at 4,300 meters.

2013: Black jaguar sightings in Barbilla National Park

Black jaguars were successfully recorded in Barbilla National Park during the year 2013.

2015: Discovery of Deceased Black Leopard

In 2015, the remains of a black leopard were discovered on a highway located near Satara in the state of Maharashtra, India.

2016: Monitoring begins in Mamoní River Valley

Starting in 2016, black jaguars were repeatedly photographed in the Mamoní River Valley of eastern Panama, a trend that continued through 2018.

2017: Exhibition of a black Amur leopard at San Diego Zoo

In 2017, the San Diego Zoo displayed a black Amur leopard (P. p. orientalis) to the public.

2017: Conclusion of West Java Leopard Study

The tracking of leopard populations in Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park, which began in 2005, continued through 2017 to confirm the presence of both color variations.

2018: Finalization of Mamoní and Mamirauá monitoring

By 2018, extensive monitoring efforts in both the Mamoní River Valley of Panama and the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve in Brazil concluded, having documented various black jaguars since 2016 and 2003 respectively.

2018: Recording of Subadult Black Leopard in Laikipia

In 2018, a female subadult black leopard was documented multiple times alongside a spotted leopard in a grassland area located 50 km east of the previous site in Laikipia County.

2019: Black Leopard Spotted in Jeli District

In 2019, a black individual was documented outside of a protected area in Jeli District, Malaysia.

2019: Conclusion of Talamanca jaguar survey

The multi-year study in the Cordillera de Talamanca mountains, which tracked jaguar populations since 2010, concluded in 2019 with a total of 104 records, including 26 melanistic individuals.