One more leopard attack in Aarey, permission granted to trap animal

One of the cages set up on Thursday near the area of conflict

One more person was attacked at Aarey last night, hours after the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF)-Wildlife granted permission to trap the leopard. The forest department has zeroed in on the suspected leopard and three cages have been installed at three different locations to trap it. In the past two months, six people have been injured in man-animal conflicts in Aarey Milk Colony in addition to three-four incidents wherein the leopard mock charged at people.

One more person was attacked by a leopard in Aarey last night. Sources said the incident took place at unit 7 when one Rajesh R was attacked. The forest department rushed to the spot late Thursday night but could not find the person who was attacked. Locals, however, confirmed the incident and shared photos of the injured man.

According to locals at Aarey, Rajesh R was attacked by a leopard on Thursday evening

Meanwhile, after the first incident of conflict, a team of researchers including biologist Nikit Surve, honorary Wildlife Warden of Mumbai suburbs Mayur Kamath, and a team of volunteers from Aarey Milk Colony started a camera trapping exercise around the areas of conflict. Sources from the PCCF office in Nagpur confirmed to mid-day that the feline responsible for the attack has been identified a few days back.

Talking to mid-day, PCCF-Wildlife Sunil Limaye said, "The team of researchers and volunteers doing camera trapping exercise in Aarey Milk Colony have zeroed in on an animal suspected of attacking people. Based on the report submitted to my office, permission has been given to capture/tranquilise the leopard."

It may be noted that there are multiple individual leopards that roam the Aarey forest, making it difficult to pinpoint the suspected leopard.

Limaye said, "On Monday, the team of volunteers was returning after installing cameras when they saw a leopard aiming to charge at two people around 8-8.30 pm. However, it did not charge. The team waited there and took photos of the leopard. The picture was matched with the data bank of leopards in Aarey Milk Colony and it matched with one of them. The feline was also spotted in a camera trap near one of the attack sites. Based on these findings, the permission to trap and tranquilise the leopard has been given."

Six
No. of leopard attacks in the past one month

Leopard cub reunited with mother

The cub that had got separated

Efforts by the Thane forest department to reunite the leopard cub with its mother have been successful. The cub was placed near the spot from where it was rescued on Wednesday night.Assistant Conservator of Forest Girija Desai from Thane forest Department (Territorial) said, "Attempts of reunion have been successful. Locals have confirmed that they have seen a female with cubs."