Black Beauty: India's Rare Tiger Graces National Geographic Cover

Indian photographer Prasenjeet Yadav has achieved an extraordinary milestone with his image of a rare black tiger from Odisha's Similipal National Park set to grace the cover of National Geographic magazine's October 2025 edition.

Yadav's captivating photograph, a result of months tracking the elusive big cat in Similipal's dense forests, highlights the presence of pseudo-melanistic tigers in the region. This rare genetic mutation affects nearly half of the reserve's tiger population, making it a unique ecosystem worth preserving.

Yadav expressed his privilege at collaborating closely with the Odisha Forest Department, witnessing their vigilant conservation efforts first-hand, and capturing such majestic wildlife. National Geographic editor-in-chief Nathan Lump emphasized the complexities of conservation that this story portrays, while Alok Jain of JioStar celebrated the image's contribution to the magazine's legacy of pioneering storytelling.

(With inputs from agencies.)