One of the two male leopards suspected to be behind the fatal attack on a toddler on Diwali at Aarey Milk Colony has been trapped and authorities have stepped up the efforts to catch the other. The captured leopard has been identified as C-55, while forest officials and volunteers have increased night patrols in the green zone
Updated On: 2022-10-28 01:17 PM IST
G Mallikarjun, Sanjay Gandhi National Park’s field director and conservator of forest, said, “In the wee hours of Wednesday, we captured one male leopard [C-55] which was later brought to the rescue centre at SGNP. The medical examination of the animal was done by our vet Dr Shailesh Pethe. The animal is around three years old and it has been kept under observation by our vet” Pic/Kunal Chaudhari
Mallikarjun said that the forest department teams would continue monitoring the other male leopard—C-56—in the field Pic/Kunal Chaudhari
“We have installed a total of 30 camera traps around unit No. 15 and at other locations in Aarey Milk Colony to monitor the leopard’s activities,” said Mallikarjun Pic/Kunal Chaudhari
Volunteers from the Aarey Camera Trapping Team and NGO WWA are assisting the forest department to trap C-56. On Monday night, one trap cage was set up in the green zone, while two more were installed on Tuesday night
Leopard C-55 walked into a cage in the early hours of Wednesday, said officials Pic/Kunal Chaudhari
In the early hours of Monday, a leopard killed 16-month-old Etika Lot inside Aarey when her mother went to light a diya at a temple less than 20 feet away from their home. Pic/Kunal Chaudhari
The baby was found grievously wounded after about 40 minutes and later died of her injuries at SevenHills Hospital, Marol Pic/Kunal Chaudhari
