Injured leopard rescued from Wagle Estate in Thane

Thane: Forest department personnel successfully rescued an injured male leopard, estimated to be between 4 and 5 years of age, from the Indira Nagar locality of Wagle Estate, which falls within the buffer zone of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP).

The leopard was found with wounds on the pads of all 4 paws, and a deep gash on its hind leg, along with scars on its body and tail. Forest officials believe the injuries were sustained in a fight with another wild animal.

Residents of the area had been reporting leopard sightings in the vicinity over the past several days. On Saturday evening, forest staff and personnel of the State Security Corporation spotted the injured animal perched on a tree. Forest officials, along with volunteers from wildlife organisations WWA and RAWW, visited the site and observed that the leopard’s movements were severely impaired. A rescue attempt was deferred overnight due to darkness.

The team resumed the search at 6 am on Sunday and found the leopard lying in the undergrowth, roughly 70 to 80 metres from where it was spotted the previous night. Since the animal was too weak to be safely netted, SGNP veterinary officer Dr Vinaya Jangle tranquillised it using a dart gun before the team moved in.

The leopard was given preliminary treatment on-site before being shifted to the leopard rescue centre at SGNP. Its rescue brought considerable relief to residents of Indira Nagar, who had been on edge since the Saturday night sighting.