Mallika Dureja
Since Tuesday, a leopard has been observed multiple times in Bhavani Nagar, Marol, Andheri (East), prompting the Mumbai forest department to issue a high alert. Three camera traps have been placed in the area to assist identify the animal.
The forest department, which is conducting neighborhood-wide awareness campaigns and round-the-clock surveillance, reported that the animal may have visited this particular area multiple times prior to the Covid-induced closure in 2020.
A forest department official, requesting anonymity, stated, “There is no need to despair. We have reason to believe that the animal frequents the area and will shortly return to Aarey Colony. There is a connecting section of vegetation that the animal can use to return without encountering humans. If it were stranded in the area for two days, an undesirable event could have occurred. It is a great sign that the animal is keeping to itself.”
In October of last year, a 16-month-old child was fatally wounded by a leopard in Aarey Colony, according to official statements. “People should remain calm and rest assured that we are monitoring the situation, but young children should not be left unattended in and around Bhavani Nagar, particularly at night,” a forest department official advised.
Residents, on the other hand, remained exceedingly concerned about the forest department’s slow response time. “On March 7, after photos and videos of the animal began to circulate in the area, residents began to panic.” It appeared that the police control centre did not have the correct contact information for forest officials when I called. And when forest officials were ultimately contacted, they appeared hesitant to act. “Only after numerous CCTV sightings did they conduct an inspection,” said Vikas Bali, a resident of Marol.
Not for the first time has a leopard been spotted in Marol. In 2019, a leopard cub penetrated the Woodland Crest residential building and had to be rescued after four hours of struggle. Subsequently, in August 2020, multiple leopard sightings were reported near Sher-E-Punjab and Marol, but in neither case was there any human-leopard conflict.
