Take strict action for provoking leopards: Forest Department to officials

Balwant Yadav who was attacked, shows his injuries

The incidents of human-leopard conflict continue in Aarey Milk Colony. On Sunday night, a man was injured by a leopard in the ninth such attack, but thankfully, did not sustain serious injuries. After mid-day's article on some people provoking leopards, increasing chances of such incidents, the Forest Department has issued instructions to act strictly against those who do so.

A Forest Department official said, "At around 7.15-7.30 pm, one Balwant Yadav was walking on the road from Unit 31 to Unit 4 when a leopard attacked him. He was immediately rushed to the BMC trauma hospital. Thankfully the person did not sustain serious injuries and was discharged after being given first aid."

Yadav had just come to Mumbai few days back from Uttar Pradesh, and was about to take a job at a cattle farm close to the attack site.

The last attack also took place close to the same location on October 17 at around 6 pm when one Rajendra Amar Singh Rawat, 28, a resident of unit 31 claimed that a leopard mock charged him.

Instructions on trouble-makers

On Sunday, mid-day had done a story on some residents who were provoking leopards in Aarey Milk Colony, increasing the chances of human-animal conflict. Following the mid-day article, instructions have been given to the authorities to increase patrolling, and take strict action against those found disturbing leopards.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (wildlife) Sunil Limaye said, "Instructions have been given to the concerned officials to not just increase night patrolling in Aarey Milk Colony, but to also take strict action against those who are found disturbing wildlife. Our teams are taking all the best possible efforts to trap the suspected leopard, C32."

Monitoring suspected leopard

At present around 6 to 7 trap cages are active in Aarey Milk Colony and a total of more than 20 camera traps have been too installed at various locations to monitor the activity of C32 which is responsible for the human-animal conflict incidents in Aarey.

Sources from the forest department also told this newspaper that the picture of the suspected leopardess, C32 has been captured in a camera trap.

Mumbaikars for Sanjay Gandhi National Park group teams are also creating awareness at various locations in Aarey.