Acting on an alert on Monday evening, officers and staff of the forest department, along with a team led by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) India’s Niket Surve, rushed to the Nagla zone of the Yeoor Forest area, where the leopard’s carcass was located
Officials said the animal’s claws, canines, and other vital organs were intact.
A male leopard that was rescued from a human settlement in Bhayander near Mumbai last month and later released into Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) was found dead in the Yeoor Forest area after a mortality signal was received from its satellite collar, forest officials said.
Acting on the alert on Monday evening, officers and staff of the forest department, along with a team led by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) India’s Niket Surve, rushed to the Nagla zone of the Yeoor Forest area, where the leopard’s carcass was located. A panchnama was conducted at the site, and officials said the animal’s claws, canines and other vital organs were intact. Due to inadequate natural light, a post-mortem examination could not be conducted on Monday night.
On Tuesday morning, SGNP veterinary officer Dr Nikhil Bangar, along with Dr Prashant Gadhave from the Mumbai Veterinary College, carried out the autopsy as per protocol. Samples have been sent for medical and technical examination, and the exact cause of death will be ascertained after the reports are received, officials said.
The leopard had been rescued from Bhayander on December 19, 2025, and was kept under the supervision of the deputy director (south) and a veterinary officer of SGNP, Borivali, using the facilities available in the area. A committee formed to decide on the animal’s release met on December 22, 2025, and resolved to release it into its natural habitat after fitting it with a satellite collar. The decision was taken under the guidance of the chief conservator of forests (wildlife), western region, Mumbai, and the conservator of forests and director, SGNP.
Leopard hunted dog, showed healthy signs before being found dead in Yeoor range in Thane
Following a medical examination and certification, the leopard was released into the designated area of SGNP on December 25, 2026, at 9.25 pm. Officials said the animal was healthy and agile at the time of release, and the satellite collar was in working condition.
Post-release monitoring was carried out by the SGNP wildlife rescue team, officers and staff from the Borivali and Yeoor Forest areas, and WCS representatives. Between December 25 and 30, the leopard was observed moving within the designated Sasunavghar area in Naigaon near Mumbai, with satellite collar data confirming that it remained within forest limits.
According to forest officials, the leopard, which was released in the Nagla area of the Yeoor Forest range, was found to have hunted a dog in a cave area on December 31. The animal continued to remain in the release zone thereafter, and on January 5, 2026, its presence was confirmed through pugmarks and faecal matter. Camera trap footage and satellite collar data indicated that the leopard was physically healthy during this period.
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