The state government’s forest department is set to monitor the movement of a four-year-old leopard that entered a residential building at Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s (MMR) Bhayander on December 19. After capturing the leopard the forest officials had taken it to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) for treatment and observation and later on December 25, the animal was released in the forest with a radio collar fitted to its neck.
“Our observation suggests that the leopard must have separated from its mother and entered human habitation by mistake. The leopard is three to four years old and at this age it’s quite normal for them to look out for their mother aggressively once they get separated,” Anita Patil – director of SGNP told the Indian Express on Saturday.
Patil said that tracking the animal’s movement will enable them to make informed decisions in the future to prevent man-animal conflicts.
After capturing the leopard, a committee was formed at SGNP to take a call on the animal’s future. The officials said that following this, a decision was made to release the animal back into its natural habitat after fitting it with a GPS chip enabled radio collar.
Forest officials said that the GPS collar will help officials study the leopard’s movement and better understand it. Forest staff and a research team from an NGO are tracking the animal using GPS and radio signals. This also helps ground staff learn modern wildlife monitoring methods. The leopard was released into its natural habitat on December 25, and officials said that current observations indicate that the animal is now roaming within its natural environment and is stabilising gradually.
Earlier on December 19, the leopard had entered the residential Parijat Building at Bhayander’s BP road. The animal had attacked seven people, all of whom were seriously injured. The presence of the animal triggered panic and fear in the area as it roamed around the periphery for around seven hours. Later, the forest officials arrived at the spot and captured the animal after tranquilising it.
Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India.
Expertise & Authority
Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai.
Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in:
Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting.
City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region.
Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis:
National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019.
State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019.
Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis.
Experience
Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies:
Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014).
Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express.
Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More
