How a rare black tiger from India’s Similipal became National Geographic's iconic cover photo

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Prasenjeet Yadav's stunning photograph of a rare black tiger in India's Similipal Tiger Reserve graces National Geographic's October 2025 cover, highlighting the elusive big cat and the photographer's dedication. Yadav spent 120 days tracking and photographing these unique tigers, found only in Similipal, showcasing their pseudo-melanistic pigmentation and the conservation efforts to protect their fragile ecosystem.