Mumbai:
The leopard reportedly entered the residential area during the early morning,
and it reportedly mauled a local before being tranquillised and captured by the
wildlife officials. "It came into this area after crossing the wall...the wildlife
officials came and captured the leopard after tranquillising it. Only one man
sustained minor injuries when the leopard mauled him with its claws," said A Pawaskar,
Inspector, Kandivili East Police Station. In recent months, Maharashtra has witnessed
a number of incidents of wild animals straying into urban areas, mainly owing
to loss of habitat and extension of human settlements into forest areas. According
to wildlife sources, the leopard must have jumped over the wall since Borivali
National Park is well protected. India had about 7,300 leopards in the wild according
to a 1997 census.
