In a yet another incident of suspected roadkill, the dead body of an adult male leopard was found inside the bushes near Mandvi close to Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Vasai on Thursday. As per the data gathered by Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) authorities along with 'Mumbaikars for SGNP' members, 19 leopards have died in the last 10 years in road accidents on the busy Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway, Thane-Ghodbunder Road and Aarey Milk Colony Road. This death takes the number to 20.

A tense night
On Wednesday around 6 pm, the Thane Forest Department (territorial) received a call from the Mandvi Range that a leopard, appearing to be injured or ill, was seen resting inside the bushes close to the human settlements. The news spread like wildfire, and soon, a huge crowd gathered to see the animal. Deputy Conservator of Forests Dr Jitendra Ramgaonkar asked the Leopard Rescue Team of Thane FD to rush to the spot with Assistant Conservator of Forests Girija Desai, wildlife biologist Nikit Surve, and Honorary Wildlife Warden of Thane Pawan Sharma. With help from the police, they controlled the crowd to give space to the animal to leave.