02 April,2024 02:43 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
Officials stationed on the road leading to the fort
While the appearance of a leopard near Vasai fort - located approximately 10 km from Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary - has left many astonished, officials from Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) told mid-day that the big cat's details match the records of a feline in the sanctuary's database.
Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) and SGNP Director G Mallikarjun said, "The image of the big cat that was photographed by the camera trap near Vasai fort was matched with our leopard database and it turned out to be a leopard from Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary."
Forest department officials told mid-day that the leopard is male and it was photographed by a camera trap installed at the wildlife sanctuary this year. Researchers and the department are also trying to find out the probable route or path the leopard might have taken to reach the fort. A local from the area who did not wish to be named said that the leopard was spotted around 3 pm on Monday by locals near the jetty.
ALSO READ
Mumbai cop celebrates Diwali 2024 with divyang students of Goregaon school
Mumbai’s Aarey Colony: Metro-3 commuters face safety risks, steep auto fares
'Mahayuti to get thumping majority in Maharashtra Assembly election'
Sushant Singh death case: Relief to Rhea Chakraborty as SC rejects CBI plea
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Indians opening up to non-monogamous life,' Paul Keable
On April 1, mid-day, in its report âFirst-time leopard sighting near Vasai fort leaves experts puzzled', highlighted how the big cat was seen around the fort, which is about 16 km away from the wildlife sanctuary by road, around 8.30 or 8.40 pm on Friday. A densely populated area and railway tracks occupy the space between the two spots. A bike happened to collide with the leopard, causing its rider to fall down and sustain injuries.
Mar 29
Day leopard was first spotted