MUMBAI, June 29: A leopard which entered a school in Goregaon East near Aarey forest in the night on Tuesday and was trapped inside a washroom, has been rescued and released in Sanjay Gandhi National Park.

The BMC school is located in Bimbisar Nagar in Goregaon East. "A male leopard was rescued by the Forest Department in the wee hours of Wednesday from the toilet of a school at Bimbisar Nagar in Goregaon East. The animal was successfully tranquilised and has been taken to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) Leopard Rescue Centre," Mid Day quoted a Forest Department official. The big cat was spotted by the security guard past midnight. It is said to be around 3 or 4 years old.

The Thane Forest Department, on receiving a call about the leopard, sent a rescue team at 3.30 am and by 5.30 the cat was successfully tranquilised inside the washroom of the school.

As the forest has become wet due to change of climate, the cat might have been looking for dry places.