The sudden spurt in leopard attacks in Aarey Milk Colony in the past month has fuelled the suspicion that one particular big cat could be targeting the residents. The locals and experts have reasons to believe the theory as there was not a single attack for about two years. Since August 31, four people, including a four-year-old child, have been injured in leopard attacks.

Apart from the four victims, at least five people have claimed that a leopard charged at them in recent weeks. Sources said officials from the Thane forest division and the Sanjay Gandhi National Park are trying to ascertain the root cause of the man-animal conflicts in Aarey. Wildlife conservationist Kedar Gore from The Corbett Foundation said, “The series of leopard attacks indicates that there is something wrong with an animal. In the larger interest of the people and the leopard, it should be trapped.”