Mumbai: Camera traps set to catch leopard in Film City

CCTV grab of the leopard at the top of the set

The forest department has installed camera traps at the set of a Hindi television series at Film City in Goregaon East after a leopard killed a dog within the set's boundaries. According to a source working at Film City, a guard first spotted the leopard around 8 pm on Sunday, after it attacked a dog. "As the leopard had entered the set, the guards checked the CCTV footage around 10 pm and saw the leopard chasing the dog. There was no sign of the dog after that," said the source.

On Monday, staff working on the set spotted the leopard moving to the top of the set. The Thane Forest Department (Territorial) was informed about the incident after which a team visited the spot on Monday night and found the dog's carcass at the top of the set. On Tuesday, Forest Guard Surendra Patil and department staff member Santosh Bhagane interacted with the people and explained the Do's and Don'ts while volunteers Kunal Chaudhari and Raj Jadhav installed two camera traps at the location.

"As soon as we received information, our staff reached the set at Film City where the leopard was spotted. We have increased patrolling in the area and our staff has created awareness among people working on the set regarding the Do's and Don'ts. Camera traps have also been installed in the premises to identify the individual Leopard roaming in the area," Deputy Conservator of Forest Santosh Saste said. There have been leopard sightings in this area in the past as well, as Film City shares its boundary with the Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Aarey Milk Colony. There is also a large forested patch inside Flim City as well.

8 pm
Time the leopard was first spotted on Sunday