Photos of a rare black leopard, taken by a British wildlife photographer, are attracting attention online for the animal’s stunning features.

Andy Rouse, who has placed nine times in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards, per his official website, has checked off a bucket list item.

 

 

“It’s been an ambition of mine for several years to photograph her for my forthcoming leopard project, and wow, what an experience it was,” he said of getting the chance to photograph Giza, a wild ​​big cat famous for her rare coat color, according to a Thursday, Jan. 22 article published by SWNS.

Unlike Giza, leopards are usually golden or tan, with a lighter underside and black spots. Giza stands out with her dark brown and black coat, which still shows spots when you look at her closely.

Giza is likely a melanistic leopard, also called a black panther, which means the big cat probably has excess black pigmentation, resulting in a darker coat.

Rouse not only takes award-winning photographs of wildlife on all seven continents, but is also the founder of The WildBunch Club and offers tours.

While guiding in Kenya, he came across Giza, a seven-year-old black female leopard, and her cubs at the Laikipia Wildlife Conservancy.

“She’s very famous as she’s so bold and beautiful,” he said of Giza, adding, “She has two normal colored cubs, both 12 months old and doing so well as she’s an incredible hunter and teacher.”

“Everything a great mother should be. She’s got such a unique personality that spending time with her is just magical,” Rouse continued.

Black leopards, panthers, and jaguars can often be mistaken for one another. Still, according to Natural Habitat Adventures (NHA)— a conservation-focused nature and wildlife expedition company that is also a WWF (World Wildlife Fund) travel partner — there are key differences.

Although jaguars and leopards are both members of the Panthera genus, their geographic locations are often the easiest way to tell them apart, NHA explained.

Jaguars are from Latin America, while leopards are found in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Russia.

Giza is one of the few confirmed wild black leopards in Africa, SWNS reported.

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“Black leopards are so, so rare,” Rouse said of his subject.

“She took my breath away the first time I saw her, probably the most beautiful cat I have ever seen, and I have seen a lot,” he added.

Photos of a rare black leopard, taken by a British wildlife photographer, are attracting attention online for the animal’s stunning features.

Andy Rouse, who has placed nine times in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards, per his official website, has checked off a bucket list item.

“It’s been an ambition of mine for several years to photograph her for my forthcoming leopard project, and wow, what an experience it was,” he said of getting the chance to photograph Giza, a wild ​​big cat famous for her rare coat color, according to a Thursday, Jan. 22 article published by SWNS.

Unlike Giza, leopards are usually golden or tan, with a lighter underside and black spots. Giza stands out with her dark brown and black coat, which still shows spots when you look at her closely.

Giza is likely a melanistic leopard, also called a black panther, which means the big cat probably has excess black pigmentation, resulting in a darker coat.

Rouse not only takes award-winning photographs of wildlife on all seven continents, but is also the founder of The WildBunch Club and offers tours.

While guiding in Kenya, he came across Giza, a seven-year-old black female leopard, and her cubs at the Laikipia Wildlife Conservancy.

“She’s very famous as she’s so bold and beautiful,” he said of Giza, adding, “She has two normal colored cubs, both 12 months old and doing so well as she’s an incredible hunter and teacher.”

“Everything a great mother should be. She’s got such a unique personality that spending time with her is just magical,” Rouse continued.

Black leopards, panthers, and jaguars can often be mistaken for one another. Still, according to Natural Habitat Adventures (NHA)— a conservation-focused nature and wildlife expedition company that is also a WWF (World Wildlife Fund) travel partner — there are key differences.

Although jaguars and leopards are both members of the Panthera genus, their geographic locations are often the easiest way to tell them apart, NHA explained.

Jaguars are from Latin America, while leopards are found in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Russia.

Giza is one of the few confirmed wild black leopards in Africa, SWNS reported.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“Black leopards are so, so rare,” Rouse said of his subject.

“She took my breath away the first time I saw her, probably the most beautiful cat I have ever seen, and I have seen a lot,” he added.