Mumbai: Security guard saves leopard cub’s life

The leopard cub that the security guard found

The quick actions of a security guard have helped save the life of a four weeks old leopard cub from stray dogs. The cub was found close to a road on Monday morning and Forest Department officials have started the process of reuniting it with its mother.

Talking to mid-day Range Forest Officer and in charge of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) Leopard Rescue Team, Vijay Barabde said, "A security guard at Film City came across a three to four weeks old leopard cub on Monday morning. As there were stray dogs nearby, which could pose a threat to the cub, the guard it handed over to forest guards. We have initiated the process of reuniting the cub with its mother and hope that she takes it with her at night."

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A source said the security guard did not want to be identified and only wanted to see the cub safe. He put it in a basket and handed it to Forest Department personnel. On Monday evening Forest Department officials along with the help of biologist Nikit Surve, members from the Aarey Camera Trapping team including Satish Lot, Kunal Chaudhari, Imran Udat, Vasim Athaniya, Kaushalendra Dubey and WWA Volunteer Raj Jadhav, Prasad Khandagale amd Aditya Shinde, assisted the Forest Department.

The Forest Department has also installed night vision infrared cameras to monitor if the leopardess came close to the small cage where the cub was kept. It is being said that a passerby had seen a leopard few hundred metres away from the location where the cub is kept. As there are many stray dogs in the area, the Forest Department officials have kept the cub in a small cage and a rope has been tied to its door using a pulley. When the Forest Department officials see the leopardess approaching the cage on their cell phone, they will open the door so she can take it with her.

SGNP rescue team members and staff were present along with volunteers at night to see if the mother comes. They will try to reunite the cub with the mother for few days more but if it is not successful, it will be sent to the Leopard Rescue Centre at SGNP.