20 December,2025 07:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
Forest Department officials rescue the leopard from Parijat Apartment after a six-hour-long operation. Pic/Satej Shinde (right) A screengrab from a viral video showing the leopard moving inside a residential housing colony in Bhayandar East
After a six-hour operation, the Maharashtra Forest Department, with support from the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation, MBMC police and wildlife conservation NGOs, safely rescued a leopard that had entered a residential area in Bhayandar East, triggering a human-wildlife conflict in which seven people were injured.
The leopard was first spotted late on Thursday night by a local animal feeder, who alerted the police. Officers conducted a search along BP Road No 5 in Bhayandar East but were unable to trace the animal at the time. Panic broke out early Friday morning when the leopard entered residential buildings in the area and attacked multiple people.
Ankit Gupta, a resident of Parijat A and B Cooperative Housing Society, said residents were initially told that the animal had been spotted behind the building the previous night. "In the morning, around 7.30 am, I was at my dairy shop when I heard people screaming. That is when we realised the leopard had entered a first-floor flat through a balcony and injured a girl. It later attacked several others," he said.
Another resident, Prashant Makwana, expressed shock at the incident. "There is no forest patch nearby. Sanjay Gandhi National Park and the mangroves are far from here. We are still wondering how the leopard reached this area," he said.
The Thane Territorial Forest Department, Sanjay Gandhi National Park authorities, MBMC and police were informed. SGNP Director Anita Patil and Deputy Conservator of Forest Sachin Repal dispatched rescue teams. Wildlife NGOs, including SARRP-India, WWA and RAWW, assisted in the operation.
Rescue efforts were hampered by crowding after local political leaders arrived at the spot, drawing supporters and onlookers. A resident said the presence of politicians added to the chaos and made crowd control difficult for police.
SGNP veterinarian Dr Nikhil Bangar said the leopard was eventually darted on the first floor, where it had taken shelter inside a toilet. "The window opening was very small, so we had to use a blowpipe instead of a tranquilliser gun. The leopard is around three to four years old. A decision on whether it will be released into the wild or kept in captivity will be taken after further examination," he said.
6
No. of hours rescue op lasted
December Leopard entered Nagpur city, rescued by forest department
November Leopard injured five people in Nashik before rescue
November Leopard rescued from second floor of under-construction building in Nagpur's Bhandewadi area
November Leopard injured three people in Kolhapur before being rescued
Dwarka Bhuvan
In another incident at Dwarka Bhuvan on Talav Road, the leopard jumped into a first-floor balcony and bit the hand of Deepu Bhowmick, 52, who managed to shut the grill and escape. "I have lived here for 25 years. There are no forests nearby. We are all wondering how the leopard came here," Bhowmick said.
Paras Building
The first attack occurred near Paras Building, where 50-year-old Rakesh Yadav and his family friend, 19-year-old Shyaam Pratap Sahani, were returning after breakfast around 8 am. Sahani, who had arrived in Mumbai just two days earlier in search of work, was scratched by the leopard, which was hiding behind parked motorcycles. "It first attacked my uncle and then came at me. I started shouting for help," Sahani said.Yadav said the attack happened in seconds. "Had we fallen, the injuries could have been far more serious," he said.
Parijat Apartment
The most serious attack took place at Parijat Apartment, where 23-year-old Anjali Tak was asleep when the leopard entered her room through a balcony. The animal scratched her face and head, causing serious injuries. Her sister and mother escaped with minor wounds. A relative, Chagannlal Bagrecha, rushed in with sanitation workers and helped drive the leopard away. Anjali was later shifted to KEM Hospital for advanced treatment.
Thursday
Night the leopard was first spotted
"Since 9 am on Friday morning, we have had seven patients of leopard attack come into our hospital. We instantly assembled a team of surgeons, physicians, anaesthetists, casualty medical officers, on-duty medical officers, nurses, and me. Two patients have been moved to KEM, given the serious nature of their injuries and prior medical history," said Additional Civil Surgeon Dr Smita Ade.
Do
. Stay calm and immediately inform the Forest Department or police control room
. Keep a safe distance and ensure children and pets remain indoors
. Shut doors, windows, gates and balcony grills
. Follow instructions issued by forest officials and police
. Allow clear access and escape routes for rescue teams
Don't
. Do not chase, corner or provoke the animal
. Do not make loud noises or attempt to scare it
. Do not block escape routes or surround the animal
. Do not crowd the area or take videos
Maharashtra Forest Department:
022-2544 5459
Local police control room:
100 / 112
Rakesh Yadav, 50, who was injured when leopard attacked him near his building
Shyaam Pratap Sahani, 19, who sustained injuries while returning home after breakfast
Deepu Bhowmick, 52, who was injured after leopard jumped into his balcony
Khushi Tak, 19, who suffered minor injuries during the leopard attack at her residence
Bharti Tak, 55, who sustained injuries while escaping the leopard
Chagannlal Bagrecha, 48, who was injured while helping rescue a family
