09 July,2025 06:52 PM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
File Photo.
In a tragic incident, an adult leopard was spotted in Aarey forest in the early hours of Wednesday. Wildlife enthusiast Prasad Khandagale encountered the leopard while returning home.
Speaking to Mid-Day, Prasad Khandagale recounted, "On my way home, I had the most incredible experience as I spotted a stunning leopard crossing the road in Aarey forest. I pulled over at a safe distance and just watched it for a couple of minutes. It's funny because the leopard chose to sit right next to a road sign for a speed bump, almost as if it was advising drivers to slow down for wildlife crossing. After sitting there for a few seconds, it stood up and quietly walked back into the forest. Leopards are often misunderstood and thought to be dangerous, but in reality, they won't attack humans unless they feel threatened or provoked."
Following his observation, Khandagale has appealed to the government authorities, including the Public Works Department, Forest Department, and Traffic Police Department, to install speed breakers on the internal roads within Aarey to prevent accidents involving wild animals.
