Thane: Stray dog narrowly escapes leopard once, but is caught again moments later near Yeoor Hills

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In a dramatic and chilling late-night encounter near Yeoor Hills, close to Thane and the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, a stray dog briefly escaped the clutches of a leopard - only to be caught again moments later. The entire incident was captured on a car's dashcam and witnessed by a passing motorist.

Jerigan Gracias, who was driving along the road around 12:45 AM, recounted the incident. "I was taking my brother and dad to Yeoor Hills, my favourite spot for hikes and to connect with nature. Suddenly, we saw a leopard dragging a stray dog along the road," he said.

Gracias believes their car may have startled the leopard, causing it to drop the dog. "The poor dog looked dazed and disoriented. As it began to gather its bearings and attempted to run away, the leopard sprang out from the darkness again, grabbed the dog, and disappeared back into the pitch-black forest."

The unsettling encounter took place just feet from Gracias's vehicle. "It was a nerve-wracking moment. We were fortunate enough to witness the entire scene unfold up close - and capture it on the car's dashcam," he added.

Gracias mentioned that this was his second encounter with a leopard in the area, although the first was limited to hearing the animal rather than seeing it.