Fantastic beasts and where to find them

There are few creatures as elusive as the black leopard. In Africa, these magnificent cats are so rare, they are the stuff of legend. Wildlife photographer and conservationist Will Burrard-lucas’s love of leopards has been with him since childhood. In his quest to capture intimate portraits of animals, he developed new technology, including a remote-controlled camera and a system for photographing nocturnal creatures. In Kenya, he used these tools to capture the first high-quality, scientifically verifiable photograph of an African black leopard in almost 100 years.

In his book, The Black Leopard, he tells his story alongside awe-inspiring images. The tales behind the images are just as compelling as the photos. He recalls: ‘The night is black. Clouds blot out the stars and the air is thick with the promise of rain. As my headlamp flashes across a rock, there is a glimmer of light. I peer into the darkness and two spots glow brightly back at me. Eyes! My pulse races with excitement.’ How thrilling!

‘The Black Leopard: My Quest To Photograph One Of Africa’s Most Elusive Big Cats’ by Will Burrard-lucas (Chronicle Books, £26)