The search for the leopard that is believed to be behind a string of attacks on residents of Aarey Milk Colony will continue. In the early hours of Friday, a female big cat walked into one of the cages set up inside the green zone, exciting forest officials. But it turned out to be different from the one they have been searching for. The animal was released into the wild within hours.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2021/oct/Aarey-leopard-a_e.jpg" alt="Over 100 people had crowded the cage" width="1280" height="720" /> Over 100 people had crowded the cage
On October 1, a female leopard of 1.5-2 years had walked into a cage at Aarey. Authorities said it was not the one that is suspected to be attacking the people and the animal was taken to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. It has been kept there ever since. Officials said the second leopard was caught in a cage kept at Unit 13 between 5.30-6 am. Seeing the door shut, locals inspected the cage and found a full-grown leopard inside. The leopard attack on a local had been reported from Unit 13.&nbsp;
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2021/oct/Aarey-leopard-c_e.jpg" alt="The cage being loaded onto a van" width="1280" height="720" /> The cage being loaded onto a van
While the residents immediately alerted forest officials, an animal lover from the area said, the staff reached the spot late. He said the delay was worrying considering that curious onlookers had begun to crown the cage. &ldquo;No doubt the forest department is trying its best to trap the leopard, but it should deploy one or two staffers near the cages. When I reached the spot in the morning, over 100 people had already assembled. Some of them were trying to get closer to the animal for pictures and videos. One can&rsquo;t predict the reaction of so many people and it may put the animal at great risk. The forest staff reached half an hour later,&rdquo; he alleged.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2021/oct/Aarey-leopard-b_e.jpg" alt="" />
A widely shared video shows the animal getting aggressive with people peeping through the cage bars. Experts say such a situation become too traumatic for the animal. The cage was loaded onto a van around 7.15 am and taken to the national park where the leopard&rsquo;s health was examined.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2021/oct/Aarey-leopard-d_e.jpg" alt="The leopard that was caught on October 1" width="1280" height="720" /> The leopard that was caught on October 1
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Sunil Limaye told mid-day, &ldquo;The rosette pattern of the leopard was matched with the camera-trap picture of the suspected leopard that we have. It was not the one responsible for the conflicts. We released the animal in its natural habitat. The efforts to trap the suspected leopard will continue.&rdquo;
Authorities have activated six cages and 15 camera traps and a handful of live cameras to track down the &lsquo;rogue&rsquo; leopard. Since August 31, it has injured seven people inside Aarey and apparently charged at many others.
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Full-grown female leopard walks into a cage, but is found to be different from the one behind the attacks; officials release it within hours

Mumbai: Second time unlucky in Aarey, search for leopard continues

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Mumbai: Second time unlucky in Aarey, search for leopard continues

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