19 December,2025 03:00 PM IST | | Ranjeet Jadhav
Repal urged residents to avoid the building and not provoke the leopard to prevent human–leopard conflict. PIC/ SCREENGRAB
A leopard entered a residential building in Bhayandar on Friday morning, causing panic among residents. Confirming the incident to mid-day, Deputy Conservator of Forests Sachin Repal of the Thane Territorial Forest Department said the department had received reports of the animal's presence and immediately dispatched a rescue team to the site.
Volunteers from NGO SARRP- India are also on the spot to assist the forest department.
A total of six injured were taken to the local government hospital.
Repal urged locals to stay away from the building and avoid provoking the leopard, warning that any such attempt could trigger a human-leopard conflict.
A local said, "The presence of local politicians and their workers in large numbers near the building is making it difficult for the forest department to rescue the leopard."
SGNP Director Anita Patil has sent the SGNP leopard rescue team to the spot along with Wildlife veterinarian Dr Nikhil Bangar, who has expertise to rescue the Leopard.
Rescue efforts are underway. PIC/ Aditya Shinde
The leopard was trapped inside a room at the Paraijat Cooperative Housing Society.
Police manage crowd as rescue operation continues at Parijat CHS, Bhayandar East. PIC/Satej Shinde.
A veterinarian trying to dart the leopard. PIC/ Sources
An official from the Forest Department confirmed that the leopard was successfully tranquilised around 2.18 pm.
The leopard is now rescued and taken to SGNP.
