22 January,2024 06:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Representational Pic/File
A decomposed carcass of a leopard was found in the forested area of Aarey Colony in suburban Mumbai, a forest official said on Monday, reported the PTI.
The forest authorities had undertaken a combing operation after three leopard cubs were found in the area last week.
According to the PTI, the staff found a decomposed carcass of a leopard on Sunday afternoon within the radius of the site where cubs were found abandoned, said Pawan Sharma, founder and president of the Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW) and the honorary wildlife warden with the forest department.
Rescue teams have been monitoring the site for the mother leopard. The animal has not been captured in the camera traps set at various trails at different locations, he said.
The carcass found on Sunday is intact and examined by veterinarian Dr Vinaya Jangle of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SNGP) to rule out hunting or poaching, Sharma said.
The identity or gender of the animal could not be ascertained due to the state of decomposition, he said.
Samples taken from the carcass have been sent for DNA analysis, the official said.
The cubs found last week are housed at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park's rescue centre, he said.
Meanwhile, three live CCTV cameras with night vision features are already active in the area to keep tabs on the cubs' movements and to check if their mother appears. Additionally, the forest department has deployed staff at strategic locations to prevent anyone from entering the area where the cubs are located. Camera traps are also active in the area to monitor leopard activity.
In the last two days, the reunion did not happen, and on Thursday, the cubs were kept for reunion attempts on the third day. It's worth noting that veterinarian Dr Vinaya Jangle from Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), along with her team, is closely monitoring the health of the cubs.
Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) Santosh Saste from Thane Forest Department (Territorial) said, "We are taking all possible measures to reunite the cubs with their mothers." Earlier, mid-day reported that three leopard cubs were found at Aarey Milk Colony in the well of a non-functional biogas plant. The Maharashtra Forest Department had initiated the reunion process for the young felines.
(with PTI inputs)
