This is an archive article published on April 18, 2025
A leopard in Delhi? Fresh sighting of spotted feline at Asola Bhati wildlife sanctuary
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa took to X, saying, “A leopard in Delhi? Yes... and it’s not lost, it’s home. From wild cats to spotted deer, Delhi’s natural world is alive and protected.”
The Delhi Forest and Wildlife Department on Thursday reported a fresh sighting of a leopard at Asola Bhati Wildlife Sanctuary, the city’s lone wildlife sanctuary near Tughlakabad.
The leopard, officials said, was spotted drinking water from a water hole in the afternoon.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa took to X, saying, “A leopard in Delhi? Yes… and it’s not lost, it’s home. From wild cats to spotted deer, Delhi’s natural world is alive and protected.”
He added, “Under PM @narendramodi Ji’s vision and CM @gupta_rekha Ji’s leadership, we’re proving that a modern city can still make space for the wild. And we are not just witnessing this biodiversity… we are actively safeguarding it and taking care of it.”
Speaking to The Indian Express, Sirsa said, “This is a sign of a healthy ecosystem… Making water available for animals is the top priority of the department to preserve the leopard population… Recently, several new water holes were dug to make sure enough water is available for animals.”
Spread across 32 sq km, Asola Bhati has seen its leopard count go up to 12 since last September, indicating that the animals were also breeding inside the park.
A senior forest official said, “There are several challenges in conserving and ensuring the well-being of leopards. Since it is an urban area, man-animal conflicts are common… There are several unauthorised colonies in the surrounding areas of the park… local residents often enter and remove camera traps…”
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The official added that the number of camera traps, used to keep an eye on the animals, has increased with 45 new motion-detecting devices added — taking the number from 15 to 60.
This is not the first time that a leopard has been sighted at the sanctuary. According to a 2022 report by the Bombay Natural History Society, eight leopards were caught on camera in a year.
Officials said the leopard population in Delhi, as well as the frequency of such sightings, has increased, with a leopard sighted at least once every month. Last month, a leopard was sighted at the Asola Bhati sanctuary, officials added.
Maintaining that efforts are on to ensure the sanctuary only uses electric vehicles, Sirsa said, “There should be no foreign material in the park. We want to make it completely environment-friendly. Golf carts are allowed, but soon, we will switch to electric tractors for maintenance and other work.”
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Asola Bhati is home to 25 species of mammals, including leopards, Striped Hyena, Golden Jackal and Fruit Bat. It is also home to 115 bird species.
Sophiya Mathew is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. She joined the Delhi bureau in 2024, and has specialization in Integrated Multimedia Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai.
Professional Background
Core Beats: Her reporting is primarily focused on the Environment and Education.
Specialization: She has gained recognition for her ground-level reporting on the Yamuna floodplains and the socio-economic challenges faced by those living on its banks. She also focuses on the disparities in Delhi's education system, ranging from elite private schools to government institutions and refugee education.
Recent Notable Articles (December 2025)
Her recent work has been heavily centered on Delhi's severe winter pollution crisis and the government's regulatory responses:
1. The Air Pollution Crisis
"A tale of two cities: Delhi govt schools choke in bad air, private classrooms set up air filters" (Dec 20, 2025): A high-impact feature contrasting the "Clean Air Bubbles" in elite schools with the reality of government school students who are exposed to an equivalent of 17 cigarettes a day due to outdoor exposure.
"Delhi sees season's worst air day, second worst December AQI in nearly a decade" (Dec 15, 2025): An analytical report on the meteorological patterns trapping pollutants in the NCR.
"Delhi bans non-BS VI vehicles from outside: Why curbing vehicular pollution is key" (Dec 17, 2025): Explaining the science behind targeting specific vehicle vintages to lower particulate matter.
2. Enforcement & Regulations
"No fuel at pumps in Delhi without valid PUC certificate from December 18" (Dec 17, 2025): Breaking the news on the environment ministry's strict "No PUC, No Fuel" policy.
3. Education Policy
"Law to regulate school fee in Delhi risks becoming procedural, say parents" (Dec 13, 2025): Investigating the loopholes in the new Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025.
"Monsoon Session: Private school fee regulation Bill cleared after four-hour debate" (Aug 9, 2025): Covering the legislative passage of the controversial fee hike regulation.
Signature Style
Sophiya is known for her observational depth. Her reporting often includes vivid details from school corridors, hospital waitlists, or the banks of the Yamuna to illustrate how policy failures affect the city's most vulnerable residents. She is a frequent expert guest on the 3 Things podcast, where she explains the complexities of Delhi’s environmental laws.
X (Twitter): @SophiyaMathew1 ... Read More
