Ace city photographer Yadav’s rareblack tiger shot graces Nat Geo cover

 

 

 

ACE wildlife photographer from Nagpur and National Geographic Explorer Prasenjeet Yadav’s rare black tiger photograph has been featured on the cover of National Geographic’s October 2025 issue. The image was taken in Similipal National Park, Odisha, which is the only known habitat for this unique variant of tiger. The striking photograph, captured after months of patient tracking in the dense forests, showcases one of the world's rarest big cats. Known as pseudo-melanistic tigers, these black tigers are found only in Similipal, where almost half of the reserve’s 30 tigers possess rare genetic mutation.

 

Yadav spent over three months in the field tracking and observing the animal, gradually learning its movement patterns and behaviours. His persistence led to the photograph selected for the magazine’s cover. “Being out in the forests of Similipal as a National Geographic photographer and Explorer has been a true privilege. I saw firsthand the Odisha Forest Department’s dedicated, on-ground management and the commitment of its officers to safeguarding the future of these majestic tigers,” Yadav said on his experience. Yadav, who did his schooling from Paranjape School, NEERI and bio-technology from Hislop College, had moved to Bengaluru in his early 20s from where his journey as a National Geographic Explorer began.

 

Son of renowned adventure promoter and wildlife activist Udhamsingh and Sadhna, Prasenjeet is an avid nature lover. He got the National Geographic Explorers’ Grant under Expedition Council in 2014. His first project for NatGeo was exploring sky islands and documenting unseen species of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals found in Southern Western Ghats. “Photographing T12 in Similipal was intense and humbling, with days and months of patience distilled into a single moment. Now to see that story on a National Geographic Magazine’s international cover is an honour and a reminder of why we document India’s extraordinary wild heart,” Yadav added. Nathan Lump, Editor in Chief, National Geographic Media, said, “The subject of this month’s cover feature, from photographer, writer, and National Geographic Explorer, Prasenjeet Yadav, is a surprising corollary to that success story: the tale of a great male tiger with a rare genetic mutation, which has highlighted what happens when an animal population rebounds but remains sequestered in a reserve, without access to a diverse gene pool.”

 

Lump further said, “It’s a powerful reminder that saving animals is only the first step, and we must find ways to help them thrive. That’s exactly what a team in India has set out to do.” The photograph also highlights the work of the Odisha Forest Department, conservationists, and researchers involved in protecting tiger habitats. It draws attention to issues related to isolated wildlife populations and the challenges of maintaining biodiversity. The feature aims to contribute to broader discussions around habitat conservation, genetic diversity, and the long-term sustainability of endangered species in India and globally.