Mumbai: Officials in race to find Aarey leopard as permission to trap the big cat ends Oct 31

One of the three leopards that have walked into the cages so far

As the leopard suspected to be behind a series of attacks against locals inside Aarey Milk Colony continues to dodge them, forest officials are running out of time to trap or tranquilise the big cat. The permission by the principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) to capture the leopard ends on October 31. While forest officials can seek an extension, they will have to submit a report detailing why the mission failed, said an official.

A cage set up inside Aarey Milk Colony. File pic

Since August 31, nine residents have been injured by leopard C32, while many others have claimed that a leopard had charged at them. A forest official, who did not wish to be named, said, "The permission given by PCCF-Wildlife [Sunil Limaye] to capture the leopard ends on October 31. So we are taking all possible efforts to capture it."

Sources said more than 30 forest department officials are working in shifts to trace the leopard. They have roped in 15 volunteers and set up seven cages. Challenging terrain and high human density have made the task tougher, they said.

Aayush Yadav, 4, was injured by a leopard at Aarey on September 27

So far, three leopards, including a sibling of C32, have walked into the cages in Aarey. Barring the sibling of C32, the other two big cats have been released back into the wild. "Leopard C32 has come near the trap cages on several occasions but never entered any of them," said a forest official, requesting anonymity.